andyb...please don't change the argument here, I have been slammed for years for trying to do what you just did. Heck, I was doing it with Tommy Joseph the first month he was up this year and was told you can't do that.
SS said the Pence for Fantastic Four to Houston was a bad deal and I said that has become such an urban myth it is almost like 10% of the population convinced that if you send Elvis a letter he will read it.
The Fantastic Four did nothing in Houston, absolutely nothing. Pence had a standout half season with the Phillies in 2011 and it wasn't his fault that Lee blew a 4 run lead in Game 2 a lead that Pence helped build up by the way.] He also was doing fine in 2012 despite having no Utley or Howard to protect him and a solid case can be made that the Phils should have kept him, if he can hit in a pitchers park like AT&T, he certainly would have hit at CBP.
To change the argument now and say, yes, but Player A was dealt for Player B, who turned out to be better than Player C is an argument I have been told for years I couldn't use. So its unfair to use it now.
The bottom line of this urban myth is this...that on record for the teams they were dealt to...Pence for Swingandmissleton, Cosart, Zeid and Santana was a win for the Phillies, it simply was. Houston got nothing of the Fantastic Four but strikeouts and salary savings. The Phils got a very good right fielder who fit the team like a glove in 2011. Did the Phils need him? Probably not. Was it a good deal for them? Absolutely.
And for the last time, I will repeat it...did they need to make the deal? No and you can make that argument and I am all ears. But I do get tired of reading what a terrible deal it was when the facts speak differently. And had the Phils gotten to the WS like they were supposed to the discussion never would have come up.