Phillies expected to deal Abreu to Yanks
The Bobby Abreu trade is likely to happen Sunday, and the Phillies are expected to send the right fielder to the Yankees — even though the Red Sox are still in the mix — FOXSports.com has learned.
The Yankees would get Abreu and right-hander Cory Lidle in their proposed deal, while the Red Sox are negotiating only for Abreu. However, the Sox are working on several other fronts, and their primary motivation apparently is to muddle matters for the Yankees, according to a source close to the talks.
Abreu, 32, has given assurances that he will waive his no-trade clause for the Yankees, presumably in exchange for the exercising of his $16 million option for 2008. But due to the large amount of paperwork involved, a resolution likely is necessary by Sunday to ensure that the trade is completed by Monday's 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline.
The Abreu deal with the Yankees, if completed, likely would be perceived as a massive salary dump by the Phillies. Neither of the Yankees' top prospects, Class AA right-hander Philip Hughes nor Class A outfielder Jose Tabata, will be included in the trade.
The Phillies are expected to move several other players in addition to Abreu, including right-handed starter Jon Lieber and left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes. They have been unable to find a taker for left fielder Pat Burrell, who, like Abreu, has a large salary and no-trade clause.
If the Phillies trade Abreu, they are likely to keep outfielder David Dellucci, then attempt to re-sign him as a free agent.
Dellucci, batting .311 in a reserve role, has been the Philadelphia player most in demand on the trade market due to his pending free agency and modest $950,000 salary.
The Phillies' motivations for trading Abreu and others would be to change their chemistry and gain significant financial flexibility.
During his tenure with the Mariners, Phillies general manager Pat Gillick traded outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. after the 1999 season and lost shortstop Alex Rodriguez as a free agent the following year.
Gillick kept the team strong by reallocating the team's resources, gaining the rights to Japanese right fielder Ichiro Suzuki and acquiring several lesser veterans, building the 2001 Mariners into a 116-win juggernaut.