A look at the admittedly brief transaction log of this MLB trade deadline season leaves one optimistic about the Phillies chances to cash in on their rebuilding plan.
Two years ago, beginning, I guess, with the trade of Roberto Hernandez to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Phillies entered into a rebuilding cycle in earnest. After a couple years of tiptoeing around the inevitability of a full rebuild with the Hunter Pence trade to the Giants or the Shane Victorino trade to the Dodgers, the rebuild is fully underway—and perhaps even beyond its halfway point.
While any reasonable observer would note that the course of action the Phillies have pursued over the last two years was not only needed, but also long overdue, I must admit that I experience a great deal of anxiety when thinking about the future returns on that process.