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Phillies Wanted Starling Marte, Brad Lincoln 'And More' For Hunter Pence, According To Report

By Charlie Wilmoth
August 1, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence (8) returns to the dugout against the New York Mets during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE
August 1, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence (8) returns to the dugout against the New York Mets during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Buster Olney writes that the Phillies wanted Starling Marte, Brad Lincoln, "and more" for Hunter Pence.

Count me among those who, like Joe Starkey in an excellent column today, are glad the Pirates didn't do anything like that.

Hunter Pence is a good player, and when you're dealing with a two-month sample, strange things happen. He might carry you on his back. He might flop completely. You don't know. But when I see Pence, I see a player coming off a career year in 2011 who hasn't hit like a star this year, a player who isn't good defensively, and a player who's going to command an obscene amount of money next season. I don't think he's nearly the star that a lot of people seem to think he is. And I wouldn't pay Marte, Lincoln "and more" to get him.

It sounds like the Pirates moved on from what the Phillies were asking and picked up Travis Snider instead, and then the Phillies finally settled for somewhat less with the Giants. But I'm much happier with the trade for Snider -- who's much younger and cheaper, and only cost the Pirates a good reliever -- than I would have been if the Pirates had made a big move for Pence.

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