Phillies Trade Ben Francisco to Blue Jays

The Philadelphia Phillies have traded outfielder Ben Francisco to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Frank Gailey.  Francisco was a non-tender candidate for the Phillies and is expected to serve as a fourth outfielder for the Blue Jays.

Francisco has spent the past two and a half seasons with the Phillies.  The 30-year-old hit .244/.340/.364 over his 293 plate appearances last season.  Francisco started 55 games in right and another 14 in left field for the Phillies in 2011.

Over his career, Francisco has hit at a clip of .260/.332/.430 with the Indians and Phillies.  MLBTradeRumors.com estimates that Francisco will earn $1.5 million through arbitration in 2012 and is under team control for the 2013 season as well.

Gailey, a Philadelphia native, has spent the past five seasons in the Blue Jays farm system.  Used primarily as a reliever throughout his career, Gailey has maintained an ERA of 2.45 and 1.032 WHIP with a SO/9 of 8.7 and a BB/9 of 2.0.  Last season the 26-year-old combined to log 74 innings between Single and Double-A while holding an ERA and WHIP of 3.41 and 1.068.

For more on the Phillies and Blue Jays, be sure to check out That Balls Outta Here and Jays Journal.