TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays traded left-handed reliever Dan Plesac to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday for right-hander Cliff Politte.
Plesac is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA this season. The 40-year-old is ranked ninth all-time with 965 career games and is 61-69 with 155 saves and a 3.64 ERA.
"It happened about two months quicker than I thought it would," Plesac said. "It's going to be a challenge and it's something I'm looking forward to. Philly is a good young team that's gotten off to a slow start, but there is still a lot of baseball left. They are not buried. They are only six games back."
Plesac will join the Phillies (20-30) in New York on Tuesday.
"We think it's a significant move bringing in that kind of left-hander," Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We think he can help us close some games, and obviously we've had some problems with the back end of games."
The Phillies were swept this weekend in Montreal, with the Expos rallying for late victories Saturday and Sunday.
Plesac reiterated his plan to retire after this season.
"That's 100 percent etched in stone," he said.
Politte is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 13 relief appearances this season. The 28-year-old is 11-9 with a 4.50 ERA in 69 career games.
Plesac is making $2.2 million this season, while Politte is making just over $300,000.
"I don't think it's a case of paring any payroll. It's case of getting a quality right-hander," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "Cliff is a guy that can eventually start for us. He's a 28-year old guy with a good arm."