Shane Victorino traded to Dodgers, ending eight-year run in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Phillies are sending Shane Victorino back to the Los Angeles Dodgers, eight years after plucking him away from the team in the Rule 5 draft.

In return the cost-cutting Phillies will get major league reliever Josh Lindblom and starting pitching prospect Ethan Martin. The completion of the deal was first reported by our own Tim Brown.

Whether or not this signals the start of many goodbyes for the out-of-contention Phillies on Tuesday remains to be seen.

But no questions asked, it definitely draws a curtain on Victorino's tenure as a fan favorite and a consistent contributor in Philadelphia. The Flyin' Hawaiian was a mainstay in the outfield during the franchise's run of five straight NL East titles, recording a line of .279/.345/.439 with 88 home runs and 390 RBI in his eight seasons with the Phillies. He won three straight Gold Gloves from 2008-2010, made two All-Star teams and posted a career year for the 102-win Phillies in 2011. His grand slam off CC Sabathia in the 2008 NLDS will remain one of the most electrifying moments in franchise history.

All in all, not a bad contribution for a player the Phillies took a chance on through the 2004 Rule 5 draft. MLB.com recently named Victorino the fourth-best Rule 5 draft pick since 1990, trailing just behind Josh Hamilton, Johan Santana and Dan Uggla.

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