MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Destinations For Philadelphia Phillies' Joe Blanton

This offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies made a big move in acquiring former Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee. 

The team also lost a key component to their success over the last four seasons in outfielder Jayson Werth.

The Phillies will be pushing for offense this season so another deal or two may be rounding into shape before the season starts.

For Philadelphia, there are still questions about who will hit in the fifth spot, how the team will replace the production of Werth and who will be the fifth starter.

Kyle Kendrick signed a tender to avoid arbitration with the Phillies so I imagine he will be the team’s fifth starter.

That leaves pitcher Joe Blanton on the bubble and in the middle of several trade rumors.

The following list is of 10 possible locations for the veteran right-hander.

Enjoy!

Baltimore Orioles

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 21: Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies sprays champagne as they celebrate defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 to advance to the World Series in Game Five of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park o

Possible Players Involved: OF Nolan Reimold

This year, walking over the Baltimore Orioles won’t be so easy.

This offseason management made it evident that the team was serious about changing the losing culture in Camden Yards.

As a thank you to fans and in an effort to become a better team, the Orioles acquired Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Gregg, J.J. Hardy and Jeremy Accardo through trades or free agency.

The addition of Joe Blanton would help stabilize the weakest link of this team, its starting rotation.

The Orioles had one of the worst pitching staffs in the league and while Joe Blanton may not be a permanent fix, he will be a top three starter in Baltimore.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 26: Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during game four of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 26, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim

Possible Players Involved: Prospects!

Never would I think that when trading away Joe Blanton that he would become the ace of the team he goes to.

Blanton is good, but he is no ace.

Unless he lands with the Pirates. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates would be a good place to send Blanton to keep him from biting you later and the Pirates organization has some good prospects.

If the Phillies could pry away some nice prospects, they could lose Blanton with little or no repercussions.

Detroit Tigers

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 19: Casey Blake #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a RBI single to drive in Manny Ramirez #99 in the top of the sixth inning against Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Four of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoff

Possible Players Involved:  OF Casper Wells

The Detroit Tigers are in a division that has been one of the closest when it comes to teams in playoff contention.

With the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins breathing down their necks every year, the Tigers need to secure a starting rotation that has the potential to be very shaky.

Besides Justin Verlander, the pitchers on the staff have been notoriously inconsistent.

Joe Blanton would help the Tigers starting rotation with another solid back-end starter. 

Kansas City Royals

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - MAY 31: Starting pitcher Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on May 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Possible Players Involved: Jeff Francoeur

Oh how the Kansas City Royals have lost their way.

The Royals shipped away their franchise ace in Zack Greinke and their No. 2 pitcher, Gil Meche, retired during the offseason.

If the Royals want to put a mediocre product on the field instead of a god awful team, they may want to make a move to add some pitching depth.

Joe Blanton isn’t the best pitcher, but he would be in the top of the Kansas City rotation.

Minnesota Twins

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 26: Andy Sonnanstine #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a single against Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies during game four of the 2008 MLB World Series on October 26, 2008 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Possible Players Involved: OF Jason Repko, prospects

The Minnesota Twins are in a tough American league and they need some help at the back end of their rotation.

Joe Blanton would go into Minnesota and be the third or fourth starter for the Twins and give them a deeper starting rotation then they had last year.

The Twins will have to beat teams like Boston, New York and Texas to stay in contention and they need all the depth at pitcher they can get.

I don’t know how much the Phillies will get back, but as the necessity grows the price will rise.

Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 01: Umpire Joe West #22 talks with starting pitcher Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies after Blanton hit Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees with a pitch in the top of the first inning of Game Four of the 2009 ML

Possible Players Involved: Outfield prospect Kentrail Davis

With the re-signing of first baseman Prince Fielder, the development of Corey Hart and the continued success of Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks, the Milwaukee Brewers could be serious contenders in the National League Central Division.

The real strength for the Brewers this year will be the top half of their starting rotation, featuring newly-acquired Zach Greinke and Yovani Gallardo.

Joe Blanton would be a good addition to their starting rotation and it would give the team a better chance to win then some of the scrubs they have on that pitching staff.

Boston Red Sox

Pool/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 19: Starting pitcher Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Four of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 19, 2009 in Philadelphia, Penns

Possible Players Involved: Mike Cameron

The Boston Red Sox have made some really big moves this offseason.

The Sox added outfielder Carl Crawford and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to a lineup that was already solid.

Their depth at starting pitcher is solid, but if last year taught us anything, it’s that the pitching staff has injury concerns.

Veteran Tim Wakefield is getting older and Daisuke Matsuzaka hasn’t played well the last two seasons at all.

With a bullpen that could use some help and a back-end of the rotation that could use some bolstering, Blanton to the Red Sox may not be that far-fetched.

Washington Nationals

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

MILWAUKEE - OCTOBER 05: Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLDS during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Miller Park on October 5, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Phillies won the game 6-2 to wi

Possible Players Involved: Prospects

The Washington Nationals won’t be a threat this year in the National League but it remains to be seen whether or not Jayson Werth becomes a serious thorn in the Phillies side.

With the injury to star pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg last season, the already thin starting pitching staff got even thinner.

If we send Blanton to Washington, it will have to be for prospects because there is no one on the Nationals that fits the Phillies needs.

Blanton would be the probable No. 2 in Washington so his willingness to go along with the process would be greatly increased.  Moving him to a division rival on the other hand, scares me to death.

Texas Rangers

Harry How/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 20: Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on in Game Four of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at AT&T Park on October 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Harry How/G

Possible Players Involved: Craig Gentry

The Texas Rangers lost one of their biggest pieces this offseason to the Phillies.

Former Rangers ace-turned-Phillies fourth starter Cliff Lee’s (Yeah, that’s how deep the rotation is) departure from the Rangers organization has left a hole in their starting rotation.

I am not saying Joe Blanton would be their ace, but he could be a solid third starter behind C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis.

The Phillies could get a solid prospect or two out of the Rangers as well.

Philadelphia Phillies

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Joe Blanton #56 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a photo during Spring Training Photo day on February 20, 2009 at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies have Joe Blanton under contract so there is no rush to make a move.

The team needs right-handed hitting help so I expect a move to be made that may include Blanton.

Blanton has been solid for the Phillies and he would be a great fifth starter or a good reliever if he chooses to conform if the Phillies ask him.

I think he will be shipped elsewhere but you know Phillies GM Rubén Amaro Jr. will probably hold on to him and use him at the deadline as a trading chip to ensure the success of his team.