Philadelphia Phillies Trade Shane Victorino to Dodgers

The Philadelphia Phillies traded their center fielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher Ethan Martin on Tuesday.

Philadelphia will also get cash or a player to be named later for the two-time All-Star, who’s expected to bat lead off for the Dodgers.

LA leadoff hitters have a .222 average with a .279 OBP this season; Victorino is batting .261/.324 with nine home runs, 40 RBI, and 24 steals.

The Flyin’ Hawaiian is making $9.5 million dollars this year, and is heading into free agency after the season. The Dodgers will not acquire a draft pick as compensation if Victorino signs elsewhere this offseason.

I think it’s safe to say not too many could have seen this coming for Philadelphia. They’re on pace for around 90 losses which is unprecedented considering they finished the 2011 regular season with an MLB best 102 victories. They fell to the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in 5 games.

To top it all off, Ryan Howard ruptured his left Achillies’ tendon on the Phillies final swing of the NLDS, which only turned out to be the first of many injuries Philadelphia would have to deal with in 2012.

Victorino wasn’t the only Philly outfielder dealt on Tuesday. Hunter Pence was shipped to the other NL West contender, San Francisco for outfielder Nate Schierfholtz, minor league catcher Tommy Joseph and minor league RHP Seth Rosin.

The last place Phillies still have the top of their rotation intact, and it will likely stay that way as Philadelphia looks to build around their strong pitching staff for the future.