The Dodgers acquired a starting pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, but it wasn’t Cliff Lee.
They instead traded for Joe Blanton. The Dodgers will send the Phillies a player to be named later.
Blanton, 31, figures to move into the Dodgers rotation and replace rookie Stephen Fife.
Blanton is 8-9 with a 4.59 earned-run average this season. His 22 home runs allowed are tied for most in the National League with Mike Minor of the Atlanta Braves.
Blanton is 81-71 with a 4.35 ERA over nine major league seasons. He will be eligible for free agency at the end of the season.
He is still owed about $3 million of his $8.5-million salary.
He comes at a fraction of the cost it would have taken to acquire Lee, who could be owed as much as $110 million through 2016.
Lee, a former Cy Young Award winner, was placed on waivers on Wednesday. CBSSports.com reported that Lee was claimed, but didn’t identify the team.
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