With Roy Halladay unlikely to change addresses ahead of Friday?s non-waiver trade deadline, the Phillies opted for Plan B by acquiring Cliff Lee from the Indians. Cleveland agreed to send Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young winner, and outfielder Ben Francisco to Philadelphia for a quartet of minor leaguers -- right-hander Carlos Carrasco (Triple-A), righty Jason Knapp (Single-A), catcher Lou Marson and shortstop Jason Donald. If Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. considered the price for Halladay to be in the stratosphere, then what they paid for Lee was somewhere around the tree tops. They didn?t have to give Cleveland emerging starter J.A. Happ or any of the three prospects that Toronto was demanding -- outfielders Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor, and pitcher Kyle Drabek. With that said, this deal isn?t at all reminiscent of the trade between the Lakers and Grizzlies a year and a half ago that sent Pau Gasol to Los Angeles for a few dozen basketballs. Carrasco (No. 52), Marson (No. 66) and Donald (No. 69) were all on Baseball America?s Top 100 list at the beginning of the season, and Marson could be Cleveland?s long-term replacement at catcher for Victor Martinez should they opt to deal him by the end of the week. The Phillies have depleted their farm system slightly, but they still have the trio of Brown, Taylor and Drabek that they wouldn?t part with for Halladay, who I consider to be better than Lee in many facets. At the beginning of the season, when Carrasco was challenging for Philadelphia?s final rotation spot, he probably looked untouchable. However, the emergence of Happ made him somewhat expendable even with Brett Myers long-term injury. With Lee, the Philadelphia starting rotation is now as follows: Cole Hamels, Lee, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ. If nothing else, it?s certainly a better rotation on paper than the one they rode to the World Series roughly nine months ago. Lee was an amazing 22-3 last season. He had a sparkling 2.54 ERA and a 5-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. This season, his ERA has jumped to 3.14 (still more than respectable), and his record is just 7-9. His batting average against is higher (up to .273 from .253) and his K/BB ratio is down to 3.24. However, his strikeouts per nine innings (6.85 in 2008, 6.34 in 2009) are comparable and his groundball/flyout ratio is nearly identical. The Phillies average 5.47 runs per game, while the Indians are putting up 5.13 run per contest. That?s not a huge difference, but could mean an additional victory or two for Lee over the remainder of the season, especially against NL hitting. The left-hander will go from a team that was eleven games out of first place entering Wednesday?s action to a club that holds a seven-game lead over its closest competition. It will be interesting to see what kind of effect Citizen?s Bank Park will have on Lee. The home of the Phillies is widely considered to be one of baseball?s most hitter-friendly ballparks and Lee is used to Progressive Field, which is annually rated as one of the most pitcher-friendly homes in the Major Leagues. Lee has pitched 75 and 77 innings at home and away, respectively, this season. That?s a pretty comparable set of data. His ERA at home is 3.00, and it jumps to 3.27 on the road. However, his K/BB ratios are nearly identical and his BAA is actually higher at Progressive Field. Even in a hitter?s haven like Citizen?s Bank Park, Lee will be an opposing presence on the mound. With 60-plus games left in the season, the Phillies are pretty close to wrapping up the NL East (they hold a seven-game lead over the Marlins). Make no mistake; the acquisition of Lee is for the postseason. After getting a long-awaited taste of gold last fall, the city of Philadelphia is yearning for more. In addition to the help he?ll provide this October, Lee is under contract for the 2010 season (an affordable $8 million) as well. They aren?t leasing a player like the Brewers did with CC Sabathia last summer and they will pay him nearly half of what Halladay is due next season. Grade For Philadelphia: A- Lee isn?t Halladay, which is why it?s acceptable for the Indians to have agreed to a package that is less impressive than what the Jays were looking to get for their ace. Cleveland isn?t going to make the playoffs, but general manager Mark Shapiro is setting the club up nicely for the future. They have dealt Cy Young award winners in consecutive summers, but their already strong farm system gets even deeper with his deal. Getting Marson was extremely important, because it means they can shop Martinez without demanding a catching prospect in return. Their most experienced pitcher is now Carl, gulp, Pavano, but there is help on the way. It may not come until next season, or the year after, but it?s certainly in the rear view mirror. The only real problem I see in this deal is that the Indians didn?t get anyone prepared to contribute right away (even Carrasco). Dealing for prospects is the name of the game in baseball around this time of year, but the AL Central is baseball?s weakest division. Not that they would have had the firepower to climb back into the race, but adding a major leaguer like one of Philadelphia?s spare outfielders or perhaps even a pitcher like Happ would have at least kept them in the conversation next spring. Grade For Cleveland: B-