MLB

Remember when the trade deadline was Christmas morning for the Phillies?

Remember when the trade deadline was Christmas morning for the Phillies?
Getty Images

The trade deadline has brought many Phillies fans of this generation some incredible memories. Though the team won with mostly home-grown talent in 2008, the Phillies did continually improve their team with deadline moves from 2007-2011.

Here’s a reminder of the good ole days, when the Phillies were buyers and this city was painted red in August and September.

2011: Hunter Pence

The controversy isn’t what the Phillies gave up to get him (Jonathan Singleton, Jared Cosart, Josh Zeid and Domingo Santana) or his performance when he got here (he batted .289 with 28 homers and 94 RBI in 155 games here). It was the oft-injured catcher they received in return.

Keeping Pence, arguably, could have meant a playoff berth in 2012. Instead, fans have had to watch him celebrate a World Championship repeatedly.

2010: Roy Oswalt

Oswalt was in his decline, but he delivered his fair share of memories with the Phillies during the four-aces era. Remember him swapping from left to right field in that marathon game for the ages?

But it was his relief effort that relented in the Phils’ disappointingplayoff elimination.

He wouldn’t be the same after.

2009: Cliff Lee

This was the first time Lee joined, before he left and then came back again. He pitched against the Yankees in the World Series a season after he won the Cy Young award in Cleveland, and his arrival was one of the best deals in Phillies history.

Ruben Amaro gave upCarlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, Lou Marsonand Jason Knapp.

Lee remains a Phillie, but injured with his return in doubt.

2008: Joe Blanton

Blanton wasan innings eater, and was a huge pickup for the Phillies in their run to a title. He was eventually resigned and is also remembered for hitting a postseason homer. He’s still pitching in Kansas City.

2007: Kyle Lohse

He’s the forerunner to the aces the Phillies would bring in during later years, and helped the Phils win the division for the first time in 14 seasons. He was solid behind Brett Myers and company, going3-0 with a 4.72 ERA for the Phillies in 11 starts.