Ruben Amaro Jr. is a busy man today. After trading Shane Victorino to the Dodgers earlier, Amaro unloaded Hunter Pence to Victorino's new in-state rival, the Giants. In return, the Phillies get minor league catcher Tommy Joseph, major league outfielder Nate Schierholtz, and class-A right-handed pitcher Seth Rosin.
Joseph is the big prospect here. SBN prospect guru John Sickels wrote about Josephs at the start of the season:
3) Tommy Joseph, C, Grade B-: Borderline B: I like the way he improved his defense, also has standout power, hit 22 homers in High-A at age 19/20. Strike zone judgment remains poor and precludes higher grade, but he projects as a regular catcher if he can improve his approach.
And, in his mid-season evaluation of his pre-season prospects, Sickels wrote:
3) Tommy Joseph, C, Grade B-: Hitting .263/.317/.397 for Richmond, eight homers, 25 walks, 62 strikeouts in 300 at-bats. Has caught 48% of runners. Defense and plate discipline have improved, but power production is down. Sharp platoon split, kills lefties (.338/.386/.500) but struggled against right-handers (.236/.292/.359).
Schierholtz has been with the major-league Giants off and on since 2007. He's never had more than 362 major league plate appearances in a season, but has posted three seasons with an above-average OPS (including this season). He's a righty lefty with a bit of power, though with sub-par on-base skills. Reports are that he is an excellent fielder.
The third player is Seth Rosin. John Sickles on Rosin at the start of the season:
14) Seth Rosin, RHP, Grade C+: University of Minnesota product looked great in the Arizona Fall League following decent campaign as Low-A swingman. Big breakout is possible in 2012.
And Sickels on Rosin midway through the season:
14) Seth Rosin, RHP, Grade C+: 4.31 ERA with 68/18 K/BB in 56 innings for San Jose, 49 hits, 10 saves. Has pitched better than the ERA indicates, note strong K/IP ratio.
Per Matt Gelb, the Phillies also sent cash to the Giants, "so they did not clear his entire remaining salary of $3.5 million."