Abreu to Yankess for minor leaguers

The rebuilding for next year has officially begun.

The Philadelphia Phillies have traded Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle to the New York Yankees for 20-year-old minor-league shortstop C.J. Henry (their No. 1 pick in 2005) and 27-year-old left-handed reliever Matt Smith, reports ESPN.

Abreu must approve the deal, but he has said he would play for the Yankees.

Earlier this week, the Phillies traded third baseman David Bell, but moving Abreu marks a big change for the future, as he frees up a lot of salary that the Phils can use elsewhere in the offseason.

As much as I liked Abreu and as good of a player he is, Philadelphia did the right thing in moving him because of his high salary. I am hoping that they will also move Burrell.