The Blue Jays are shopping ace Roy Halladay and it has been reported the Phillies are one of the teams interested. On Tuesday morning it was reported that Toronto Blue Jay’s General Manager J.P. Ricciardi would entertain offers for the team’s ace and 2003 American League Cy Young winner Roy Halladay.
Halladay, recently off a stint on the 15-day disabled list, owns a 10-2 record and a 2.79 ERA.
The two-time 20-game winner has one year left on his current contract worth $15.75 million as well as a no-trade clause on his contract in which he has said he would waive if the situation was good for him and for the team.
In order to beat out the trade offers from teams such as the Red Sox, Yankees and Angels, the Phillies will have to give up a hefty package to obtain the hard-throwing righty.
Scott Lauber from The News Journal reported via twitter that a Blue Jays scout was in attendance at Citizens Bank Park tonight which may mean Toronto is interested in J.A. Happ as part of the deal.
But that’s certainly not all it would take to land Halladay.
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman said he heard Ricciardi is looking for a shortstop. Maybe minor-league youngster Jason Donald would work in that regard.
But if the Phils want Halladay, they would have to give up at least one of their young studs from the farm system: Carlos Carrasco, Kyle Drabek, Jason Knapp, Dominic Brown, Yohan Flande, Joe Savery, or Michael Taylor.
If I’m Reuben Amaro, I am working out a deal with any of those guys with the exception of Drabek, who I give up if all else fails.
The time for this team is now with the nucleus of players — Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels — Halladay, a 6-6 right-handed ace, is what this team needs if it wants to get back to the World Series and be the last team standing in October.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Although I do agree that the Phillies would have to pay through the nose to outbid teams in order to get Halladay, I still don't think the Blue Jays would end up trading their long time ace to a division rival in the Yankees or Red Sox.
ReplyDeleteThe time to win is now for the Phillies, but at what cost? Mortgaging what seems to be a bright future for a 32-year old with a slight history of injuries could go either way for the ballclub. When Halladay pitches, he is very dominant, and the Phillies would need that Game 2 starter going into the playoffs. Obviously, we all hope it ends in another parade, but if it doesn't and Halladay doesn't work out or want to resign, I'm sure the fans won't appreciate that.
Besides, the Phillies traditionally have never been the type to go out and get that ace at the deadline. For whatever reason, they always seem to fall short. Last year, there were a few top pitchers out there and the Phils got Joe Blanton. I mean it did work out because they won the championship, but I know Joe Blanton's name wasn't at the top of anyone's "must-have" list.
I would be ok with pulling the trigger on the deal as long as I could keep either Drabek or Taylor, but the odds of that happening are pretty slim.
If the Jays decide to trade Halladay, I seriously doubt they would trade him to division rivals such as the Red Sox or Yankees. If the Phils have prospects the Jays are interested in, and if they can lock Halladay into an extension, this deal is a no-brainer. Win while you have a shot. Aces don't come along on the free agent market all that often.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm a Mets fan, but hey, even we can be objective sometimes!
I agree that the Jays will probably not let perform a trade that has potential to come back and haunt them by trading Halladay to a division rival. The Phillies have the best prospects out the teams interested but another very possible suiter could by the Angels.
ReplyDeleteI know the Phillies are not usually the team to go out and make a big splash at the trade deadline but that was under "Stand Pat" Gillick. I have heard Reuben Amaro has been actively on the phones for a while looking for a pitcher and I think this trade, if Toronto gets the prospects they want, is a definite possibility.
As much as I would hate to see Drabek or Taylor go, I do it if it means another parade in October.
I do agree that the Phillies have the pieces to make the deal, but I am not sure they will pull the trigger. Even before Gilick, with Ed Wade, the Phillies never did any big moves at the deadline to bolster their roster.
ReplyDeleteTeams that I think Roy Halladay will end up with after all of this include: Angels, Braves, Rockies, Cardinals, or the Phillies. More than likely, however, he may end up with the Blue Jays. His price tag is outrageous and he may not wave his no-trade clause.