He gone. Going to the Phillies. Jesse just broke the news. Not sure who they got in return yet.

They got a minor league pitcher. I hope he's good.


Phillies could be without All-Star Utley for up to a month with
broken hand

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley had surgery on his right hand Friday and could miss a month of the
season a day after his hand was broken when he was hit by a pitch.

The Phillies acted quickly in finding his replacement, acquiring
second baseman Tadahito Iguchi from the Chicago White Sox for minor
league pitcher Michael Dubee.

Iguchi is batting .251 with 17 doubles, four triples, six home
runs and 31 RBIs in 90 games with the White Sox this season. He is
a career .273 hitter with 39 home runs, 169 RBIs and 216 runs
scored in three seasons with the White Sox.

The Phillies also were without All-Star center fielder Aaron
Rowand for Friday night's game against Pittsburgh. Rowand said he
"tweaked" his left shoulder while playing tag with neighborhood
kids, and was listed day to day.

Philadelphia did get some good news when it activated closer
Brett Myers (1-2, 5.50 ERA, six saves). Myers, Philadelphia's
opening day stater-turned-reliever, hasn't pitched since he
strained his right shoulder in late May.

Utley, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, had a pin
inserted into his hand during the surgery. Utley was hit in the
fifth inning of Thursday's game by Washington's John Lannan, who
was making his major league debut.

He finished the game, going 2-for-4, but X-rays afterward showed
he broke his fourth metacarpal.

Utley said after Thursday's game that he didn't think he'd be
sidelined for a month.

"I think it will be sooner than that," he said.

Utley is batting .336 with 41 doubles, 17 home runs and 82 RBIs
this season.

Entering Friday, Utley led the National League in doubles, tied
for the league lead in hits (134) and extra-base hits (61) and
ranked second in total bases (232) and was third in RBIs.

Utley leads the majors with 17 hit by pitches this season. He
was hit 14 times last season.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Abraham Nunez likely will
replace Utley at second base. Nunez had been splitting time at
third base with Greg Dobbs and Wes Helms, and was in the starting
lineup against the Pirates.

The Phillies purchased the contract of utility player Joe
Thurston from Triple-A Ottawa. Thurston hit a combined .278 with
three home runs and 44 RBIs in 105 games in two levels in the minor
leagues this season.

To make room for Thurston on the 40-man roster, infielder Danny
Sandoval was designated for assignment.

The Phillies also optioned lefty reliever Mike Zagurski (1-0,
4.58) to Ottawa.

Dubee is the son of Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-07-27-07 1706EDT

I hate people who ask "couldn't they have gotton more?"

No you idiots or else they would have.

I also hate people who say "Why did they get rid of him? We could still use him next year."

Once again, idiots. You'll have the same chance to sign him in the offseason if you want him. He's a free agent. Phillies aren't going to sign him. They have Utley. He's just hurt. Might as well releive yourself of 1/3 of his salary and get something in return. It's just smart business.

This trade wasn't about what we got back - it's about opening the position for Richar. To think, we'd get anything more than a mid-level (if he's even that) prospect for a struggling player on the last year of his contract is unrealistic, and wishful thinking. Hopefully, the White Sox are smart enough to get an extended look at Richar for the remainder of the season.

So who said "couldn't they have gotton more?"

I said I hope this minor league pitcher is good. That's not a complaint about who the Sox got in the trade.

Chances are, this guy will never be heard of. This trade is all about Richar.

Is Richar doing pretty well down in Charlotte? If so, I'm sure we'll see him sooner rather than later, now that Iguchi is gone.

I believe, as of about a week ago, he was hitting great, around .340ish.

Sounds good to me. Send him along.

Even if he comes up, and hits .180 for the next 2 months, we need to find out whether he's a viable option for next season. Hopefully, he'll work out though because that would nice to have not have to put any money into 2B, allocate it elsewhere, and still be able to get some production of that spot.

Well, in his first game Richar so far has a base hit and has turned 2 double plays without a hitch, and it's the 3rd inning. I'm going to get back to counting my chickens prior to hatching now...

I went to the game yesterday. Richar made an incredible play going to his left on a ground ball. He was hitting well in the minors. Who knows though.

As far as Iguich, I understand that he has limited value. However, you cannot get much lower down on the value chart than a 21 year old A ball RELIEF pitcher.

Here's a Phillies prospect report on Dubee:

Dubee, Michael, RHP (age 21) Grade = C

Dubee’s already made a name for himself to Phillies fans because he is the son of current pitching coach Rich Dubee. As the son of a pitching coach, people are always going to talk about your “feel for pitching”, and it makes sense. Dubee, who only turned 21 in January, was drafted 3 times, and finally decided the 3rd time was the charm after the Phillies went above slot to sign him. His debut was less than fantastic, as he struggled a bit at Batavia in his age 20 season. In 37.1 IP, he posted a 4.82 ERA, allowing 49 H and 15 walks compared to only 27 strikeouts. While his “feel for pitching” is no doubt mentioned as a strength, I have no idea what kind of stuff he actually has. I’m guessing he’s got the fastball/curveball/changeup mix, but judging by his numbers, he’s less than a finished product. Because he does appear to have quite a bit of upside, I went with a straight C, though numbers-wise, he could have drawn a C- at this point.

Outlook: Because of his last name and because the Phillies did overspend on him to keep him away from Tennessee, he’ll probably get a shot in the rotation at Lakewood. I can’t see him staying in rookie ball and going to Williamsport, but I could be wrong.

Again, though, we're talking about a .250 hitter with 5 HR's, and declining defensive range this season on the end of his contract.

The Mets, you know, that team that KW said had no interest in a deal, just gave up 2 prospects for an older 2B with no power, declining speed but a better average.