Phillies interested in Washburn?

[HollywoodLeo]

Could Washburn be a backup plan for Phils? - CBSSports.com

Not all the Phillies' attention has been focused on Roy Halladay.

Philadelphia had a scout in Detroit Thursday watching Jarrod Washburn, who allowed just two hits in seven shutout innings against the Tigers. Washburn lowered his ERA to 2.71, actually moving ahead of Halladay on the list of American League leaders. Washburn, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, is 4-1 with a 1.47 ERA in five starts this month, and the Phillies have had a scout watch at least his last two starts.

"He was as good as he's been in four or five years," said another scout who watched Washburn. "He's never used the sinker the way he's using it now."

The Mariners have yet to say they're willing to trade Washburn, but with the Angels heating up in the AL West, Seattle's longshot playoff hopes could be slipping away. Even with two wins in three games in Detroit, the Mariners fell to 5 1/2 games behind the Angels.

The Phillies have long been considered the most likely landing spot for Halladay, and he's obviously a much bigger prize than Washburn. But Philadelphia has continued to explore other options, including Cleveland's Cliff Lee and Erik Bedard, Washburn's Seattle teammate.

Always a good idea to have back up plans.

[Kingdom]

Cliff Lee would be a lot of fun, I'm surprised not a lot more attention has been on him and the possibility of being dealt..Cleveland is a lot worse than Toronto. He'd cost a good package too though.

Washboard's a nice fall back, 14 quality starts isn't bad at all.

[ljshorty89]

Phillies prospects Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson are not in today’s lineup for their Triple-A affiliate, creating speculation that a trade may be in the works.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com says Marson and Donald had already been scheduled to get the day off today.


That said, Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail in Toronto says today’s activity with the Phillies has nothing to do with Roy Halladay.

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com believe the Phillies have made an offer for Lee, and are simultaneously involved in talks with the Mariners regarding Jarrod Washburn.


....Interesting. So, could there actually be a trade close, or is it these guys being scheduled for a day of.....or both?