Just a day after Carlos Beltran was offically introduced as a San Francisco Giant, the Phillies wasted no time in completing a deal for Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros.
Pence will add another offensive bat to an already fearsome Phillies lineup that features Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez and others.
The Phillies parted with four prospects in the trade, two of whom were amongst considered top-tier talents within the organization.
Jarred Cosart was the top pitching prospect in the deal, a right-handed pitcher who has gone 9-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 2011 in the Phillies system.
Cosart wasn't a high draft pick (38th round in 2008), but pitched well enough in his first two years of pro ball to be considered one of Phillidelphia's top arms.
He has been a futures game selection (the minor league's version of the All-Star game) twice and posted a 2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 innings pitched his first year in low-A ball.
The top hitting prospect heading to Houston is a left-handed first baseman named Jonathan Singleton who has posted consistent offensive numbers in three pro seasons since being drafted out of high school in the eighth round.
Singleton hit .290 in both of his first two years of pro ball, showing improved power his second year in 2010 with more at-bats.
In 376 trips to the plate last year, Singleton blasted 14 homeruns and knocked in 77 while hitting at a .290 clip--his .393 on-base percentage and 62 BB also indicate he has a good understanding of the strike zone.
2011 has yielded similar offensive results as Singlton sits at .284/9/47 after 320 at bats, but his path to the majors was still blocked by Ryan Howard in Phillidelphia.
In Houston, Singleton will have a much better way of breaking the 25-man roster in the near future having to compete with Brett Wallace for playing time, rather than Howard.
Earlier this year, MLB.com named Singleton the 30th best prospect in all of baseball.
The other player in the deal was a minor league pitcher named Josh Zeid and a player to be named later.
Houston called up minor league outfielder J.D. Martinez who will vie to fill Pence's right-field position for the rest of the season.
Martinez has given the Astros enough of an argument to trade Pence this season, hitting .338 with 13 homeruns and 72 RBIs for AA Corpis Christi.
Last season, Martinez opened eyes within the organization by hitting .341 with 18 homeruns and 89 RBIs in 138 games.
The arrival of Pence in Phillidelphia likely means signifigantly reduced playing time for Dominic Brown, who hasn't proven he is ready to the the rightfielder of the present for the Phillies.
What it means for the Giants:
After taking two of three from the Phillies in a series last week, the Giants were riding high until news broke through of the Pence trade. He is a high-energy player who plays the game the right way and has been consistant at the plate and in the field his entire career. He is also another bat that adds to a fearsome collection of sluggers residing in Phillidelphia.
While landing Beltran was a big step for the Giants, Pence is a younger and more enthusiastic player who the Phillies have under contract for two more years (Beltran is a free-agent at the end of 2011).
He also is a well above-average defensive player with a tremendous arm that adds to an already solid Phillies defense. He could also could see a rise in his offensive numbers in a hitter friendly Phillies ballpark that could cater to Pence's approach at the plate.
Don't be surprised if Pence's offensive numbers are better than Beltran's down the stretch, but the true merit of the trade will undoubtedly be measured come October.
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