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Phillies History: Michael Saunders Was Almost Part of the Cliff Lee Trade

Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr made both one of the best and worst trades of his tenure in December of 2009. On the same day that he acquired Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays, he sent Philadelphia’s current ace in Cliff Lee to Seattle to save money and recoup some of the prospect talent lost.

One of those prospects who could have been coming to Philly was then-23-year old outfielder Michael Saunders. He made his major-league debut with the Mariners that year, struggling in his first stint in the majors.