PHILADELPHIA -- For the second time this week the Philadelphia Phillies have acquired outfielder Bob Molinaro from the Chicago Cubs, and this time it's legal.
The Phillies said Thursday they purchased Molinaro's contract from the Cubs for an undisclosed amount, but he will not be eligible for post-season play.
The Phillies first acquired Molinaro on Tuesday as the player to be named later in last year's trade of Dickie Noles, Keith Moreland and Dan Larson to the Cubs for Mike Krukow.
But that deal was canceled Wednesday by the commissioner's office because it violated an obscure league rule that said the acquisition of Molinaro could only be made if he 'had not been on the active list of any club in the (Phillies') league during any part of a (regular) season between the date of the agreement and the date of the assignment.'
Molinaro had been with the Cubs since opening day.
The Phillies said Molinaro's purchase was approved by the commissioner's office and the two teams were fined an undisclosed amount for violating the rule.
The team also said Molinaro's purchase will conclude the earlier trade.
