Oh Hale, No

The Phillies have it backwards. You're supposed to trade middling veterans for minor league prospects, not the other way around. But the Phils acquired reliever David Hale from the Yankees today, ostensibly to help their extremely terrible and not-good bullpen.

Hale is nothing special. He has a career 1.432 WHIP, which means he lets lots of guys get on base. His four-seam fastball averages just over 93 MPH. The guy the Phillies gave up, Addison Russ, was not considered a top-30 prospect. Still, he has 200 strikeouts in 152.2 minor league innings pitched. Hale was designated for assignment by New York to make room for Aroldis Chapman. At least Hale's contract is dirt cheap. 

Why oh why would you trade anything of value for an almost 33-year-old guy off the scrap heap? I just don't understand GM Matt Klentak's thought process. Hopefully, trying to figure out his deals won't matter much longer, because he deserves to get fired.