Phillies Recall RHP Phillippe Aumont, Place LHP Jeremy Horst On Paternity List

Phillippe Aumont, the World's Greatest Monster from the December 2009 Cliff Lee trade, has been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot left when left hander Jeremy Horst was placed on the three-day Paternity List.

After seeming to put it (or most of it) together in 2011, Aumont has been "erratic" (to put it nicely) in 2012, striking out 59 but walking 34 in 44 innings for the IronPigs.

To the extent it's possible to feel bad for a professional athlete, Phillippe Aumont is in an unenviable position, albeit one that has become much, much more complicated with the circumstances surrounding the 2012 season. Aumont was part of the "haul" of prospects that Ruben Amaro, Jr. acquired from the Seattle Mariners in 2009's weird trade of Cliff Lee. Lee's "fan favorite" status (then, if not now) led many (with very short memories and little to no knowledge of team history) to proclaim the trade the worst in franchise history.

With Tyson Gillies struggles on and off the field, Aumont's inconsistency, and J.C. Ramirez's lackluster performance, it can be tempting to view the trade solely through the lens of what was given up. It's only fair to evaluate the players in the trade on their own merits.

Aumont is a big right hander who features a mid-90s fastball with heavy sink, a very good splitter, and a good curve. Still just 23 years old, and having shown flashes of brilliance, this isn't a guy you give up on.