Via ESPN.com

The Cleveland Indians traded Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco to the Philadelphia Phillies for four minor leaguers on Wednesday.

Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Class A righty Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson -- the likely heir apparent to Victor Martinez -- and shortstop Jason Donald were sent to Cleveland.

Cliff Lee is moving to Philadelphia and a ballpark that tends to punish fly-ball pitchers. Lee has fly-ball tendencies (54.5 pct of balls in play), but when the ball goes into the air, he keeps it in the park. A look at the pitchers with the lowest fly-ball to home run percentage for pitchers with a minimum 900 batters faced (2008-09):

The Philadelphia Phillies announced their signing of free agent left fielder Raul Ibanez to a three year deal reportedly worth $30 million.

Ibanez hit .293 for the Seattle Mariners last season, with 23 homers, 110 RBIs, a .358 on-base percentage and a .472 slugging percentage.

With the signing, the Phillies have all but cut ties with longtime left fielder Pat Burrell.

According to ESPN, the Phillies announced today that All-Star second baseman Chase Utley will undergo surgery to repair his hip, and should be sidelined until June of 09.

As posted on ESPN.com:

According to the Phillies, Utley would be able to resume baseball activities in three to four months -- meaning sometime during spring training, but possibly not until the week before opening day.

However, full recovery time is projected at between four and six months. That means the best-case scenario is a return in early April, but the worst-case scenario is late May or early June, depending on how long a rehab option the club feels he would need.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley let lose on the big stage, dropping the F-Bomb on Phillies fans everywhere.



World Effing Champions from meech.one on Vimeo.

We here at 108 Red Stitches would like to extend our congratulations to the 2008 World Series Champions; the Philadelphia Phillies.

In honor of their second World Championship, we bring you this hysterical clip of the Phillie Phanatic attempting to seduce an umpire, with a little help from Alicia Keys: