On paper, general manager Matt Klentak and the Phillies did very well by trading Carlos Santana and J.P. Crawford for All-Star shortstop Jean Segura and two relief pitchers.
Neither the 23-year-old Crawford nor Santana, signed to a three-year, $60 million deal last December, performed to expectations in their time as Phillies.
Give both guys credit, though, for going out the right way.
In an Instagram post, Crawford thanked the Phillies organization and Phillies fans for "the inspiration to work as hard as I do, day in and day out."
Santana, who chose the Phillies in free agency after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Cleveland Indians, was especially complimentary of the fans in an Instagram post, saying that "your passion for Philadelphia sports energized me and motivated me to do my best."
He even said "hopefully I'll play against you Phillies fans in the World Series!" That seems rather far-fetched given the Mariners' rebuilding approach, but you never know.
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