I don't think you understand what I am saying, MoFlo- I am advocating keeping Lee and dealing Blanton. Both are FAs after this year, both are going to be making 8M+ this upcoming season, and both stand a good chance of getting big offers in FA. Blanton would command a couple solid prospects in return himself. The thing is, only one of them is coming off back-to-back excellent years and one of the best playoff runs by a pitcher in the history of baseball, while the other is coming off being pushed back in the rotation by a 41 year old Pedro Martinez. Now you tell me, which one would you rather have for one year? I think the choice is obvious: Cliff Lee.
Phillly has 108M tied up for 2011 in 8 players: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Halladay, Ibanez, Rollins, Hamels, Lidge, and Polanco. This doesn't even factor in the last arbitration year of Shane Victorino or the contracts of JC Romero and Ryan Madson. The Phllies' payroll this past season was 113M. So the Phils stand a chance of getting nothing for Blanton, too. Ruben has misjudged his window to contend with the club he has, as he stands to either have no money to add guys in 2011, the loss of Blanton/Victorino/Werth or is faced with a fire sale so he can keep those 3. 2010 is the Phillies' time, and Amaro clearly chose one year of Joe Blanton over one year of Cliff Lee. I think this was a critical error and I in a division with a revitalized Braves I think he may have missed his window.
He purcahsed an Ad in today's papers to thank the fans. 
