When the Phillies sent franchise icon Carlos Ruiz to the Dodgers in an August waiver period trade, the focus rightly was on the squat Panamanian backstop who caught four no-hitters, delivered countless big hits in the postseason and co-starred by proxy in an epic commercial with Roy Halladay. To the extent the primary return—another veteran catcher named A.J. Ellis—was noticed at all, the reaction was mostly bafflement as to why the Phillies, with Cameron Rupp established behind the plate and two strong prospects in the high minors, took a catcher back in the deal.
Exit Interview: A.J. Ellis
