Phils Swap Lefties With Texas

In desperate need of pitching, the Phillies pulled off the second trade with the Texas Rangers of the Pat Gillick era. This one brings Rule 5 left-hander Fabio Castro to the Phillies in exchange for Daniel Haigwood.

The Phillies bullpen is overworked and falling to pieces and their starting rotation isn't much better. With that in mind, the Phillies sent young left-hander Daniel Haigwood to the Texas Rangers for another left-hander, Fabio Castro.

The Phillies had their eye on Castro in last year's Rule 5 Draft, but didn't get him. Because of a groin injury, Castro wasn't pitching much with Texas, but he's now healthy and the Phillies made a move to get him and improve the bullpen - hopefully.

Castro had pitched only as high as A-ball coming into this season and had a 26-12 record with a 2.28 ERA in the minors. In four games with Texas, Castro was 0-0, 4.32 and strained his groin in May, limiting his availability. He's healthy now, but Texas had designated him for assignment and would have had to offer him back to Kansas City had they not dealt him elsewhere. That's when the Phillies jumped in and offered left-hander Daniel Haigwood.

Haigwood, who came to the Phillies in the Jim Thome trade with the White Sox, was pitching well for AA Reading, going 2-5, but posting a 3.54 ERA in 15 starts. Haigwood had struck out 85 hitters in 84 innings of work and had just been named to the Southern Division team for the Eastern League All-Star Game on Thursday.

The Phillies now must keep Castro on their 25 man roster for the rest of the season, since he was acquired by Texas in the Rule 5 Draft. Castro will join the Phillies Friday in Toronto and the team will announce another roster move at that time to make room for him on the club.