By Fitzgerald Cecilio

The Philadelphia Phillies have traded outfielder Hunter Pence to the San Francisco Giants for three players, creating some payroll room for rebuilding next year.

In return for Pence, the Phillies received catching prospect Tommy Joseph, outfielder Nate Schierholtz and Class A right-hander Seth Rosin. To fill Pence's spot, the Phillies recalled outfielder Domonic Brown from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to play against the Washington Nationals.

By trading Pence, the Phillies have created some payroll flexibility for 2013 as the outfielder could make $14 million next season as an arbitration-eligible player.

Earlier, the Phillies traded another outfielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers for for right-handed relief pitcher Josh Lindblom and Double-A right-handed relief pitcher Ethan Martin.

The 29-year-old Pence hit .324 in the final 54 games for the Phillies in 2011 after coming over in a trade deadline deal with the Houston Astros. He has hit .271 with 17 homers and 59 RBIs for last-place Philadelphia this season.

Schierholtz started 77 games at right field for the Giants this season, hitting .257 with five home runs and 17 RBIs. In all, he played 503 games for San Francisco and tallied 23 homers and 117 RBIs.

A second-overall pick by the Giants in 2009, Joseph has hit .260 with eight homers and 38 RBIs in 80 games for Double-A Richmond this year. He was the starting catcher for the U.S. team in this year's Futures Game in Kansas City, hitting a double, scoring a run, driving in a run and working out a walk.

Taken out of the University of Minnesota in 2010, Rosin began his first full season as a starter with the Class A team San Jose Giants but moved to the bullpen. He is 2-1 in 34 games for the Giants this year, with 10 saves and 68 strikeouts in 56.1 innings.

 

Phillies Trade Hunter Pence to Giants