With Tommy Leach not really giving us much so far in '09 (214 / 1 HR / 25 RBI; 0.9 WAR) and with him also being up for FA at the end of the season, I decided to make a move for a player I've been eyeing for a while. It took three lesser players to get it done, but finally we struck this deal:
TRADE 2 OF 5: (06/09): 3B Tommy Leach, P Bill Foxen, P Jack Ryan and P Joseph Myers traded to Philadelphia (NL) for IF Hans Lobert.
Hans is locked down until 1915 (albeit with an opt-out at the end of ’11) at very reasonable rates and, at 27, he should have some upside and hopefully remain productive throughout. While I wish he was a more polished shortstop, he nevertheless offers the sort of infield utility I seek (he can also play LF quite well), and his addition allows us to improve our defence somewhat with him at 1B, Herzog moving to 2B and Steinfeldt to 3B.
NB Foxen would start his first MLB game against us a couple days later, walking a club record 10. And still we managed to lose it 9-5...