Joe Blanton may be staying in Philadelphia

The Phillies signing Cliff Lee in the offseason really brought up the question of whether or not Joe Blanton would be traded to another team. If he were another team would be paying the rest of his contract, freeing up money to pay Cliff Lee. Blanton would be owed $8.5 million in the next two years with Philadelphia. But general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that it would be right for Blanton to remain within the Phillies organization. "I don’t feel comfortable doing it, he’s going to pitch for the Phillies, probably for the entire season ... We do not need to trade the man." -stated Amaro earlier today. Other GMs have looked at Blanton as a possible number one starter, but would want the Phillies to eat at some of his salary. One GM in specific stated that Blanton would not have a chance within the organization if his salary was at its current level. Blanton is a solid starter and a pitcher the Phillies have relied on in the regular season and the post season. A bad oblique strain caused Blanton to miss all of April this season not allowing him to reach 194 innings (an obscure number, I know) in a season for the first in his career. As of now, the 30 year old right-handed pitcher will probably start 5th in the rotation, but on a normal roster would be much higher in the rotation. Not only is he following R2C2, but would fit within the R, L, R, L, R pattern. I look forward to Joe Blanton staying with the Phillies in the 2011 season. My father has stated many times to me that Joe Blanton would have the most wins out of the five Phillies starting pitchers. And I hope he is right, because that would be an amazing season. Good luck Joe Blanton, I hope you remain with the Phillies.