The Phillies and Blue Jays have been locked in what one league source called "intense'' negotiations regarding star Jays pitcher Roy Halladay over the past few days, and officials believe there's still a very good chance a deal will eventually be struck – though perhaps not until close to the July 31 deadline.
Although the Jays requested a high-end package that included both top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, fine young lefthanded pitcher J.A. Happ and well-regarded outfield prospect Dominic Brown (as first reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer), and the Phillies apparently didn't appreciate the request, the sides are still believed to be discussing alternative packages. The Phillies are still almost universally seen as the favorite, thanks to their deep reserve of prospects, the wherewithal to pay Halladay and a resolve to repeat as World Champions.
It is believed the Phillies strongly object to the idea of including both Drabek and Happ. If an agreement can be reached eventually, the Jays are more likely to receive one of those two top young pitchers and one of their two great outfield prospects – either Brown or Michael Taylor - plus another piece or two. If Drabek – the pitcher the Phillies very early suggested was untouchable – is included, the other players in the deal would be somewhat lesser in value.
One competing executive said he believed the Halladay derby would go beyond the Jays-announced self-imposed July 28 deadline and go right up until the actual deadline of July 31. It's believed that at least the Rangers and Angels have exchanged names, while the Yankees, Red Sox, Brewers, Dodgers, Giants, Rays, White Sox, and Tigers also have expressed interest. One AL executive said the Jays have been asking teams for three or four of the very top young players, with a particular emphasis on prospects who are about ready for the big leagues.
The Yankees remain waiting by the phone since an initial couple calls expressing interest two weeks ago. One AL executive said Red Sox owner John Henry would like to do something big, but Boston GM Theo Epstein has been reluctant to trade his top prospects, and beyond that, the Red Sox's biggest issue lately has been their offense. Toronto has made clear both the Yankees and Red Sox would have to pay a major premium to have any chance since they want to deal him out of the AL East.
The recent revelation that Halladay told the Jays he wouldn't sign an extension there seems to increase the likelihood of him being dealt, and one competing executive said he believes Toronto has concluded that their best package will come now, when Halladay would give an acquiring team two shots at a championship. Based on his recent comments, Halladay seems almost eager to go now, as well.
While some have suggested that even the chances for a deal for Halladay are "50-50'' or less at different points during the shopping of the superstar pitcher, league executives believe Halladay will be dealt and that the Phillies' chances in particular are seen as being very good now. While Drabek is viewed as a potential star, some execs suggest the Phillies would actually be better off trading the dynamic Drabek. "(Happ's) their No. 3 pitcher,'' one AL executive pointed out. The multi-talented Brown is generally viewed as being the bigger prospect than Taylor, but both are extremely well-regarded. The Phillies possess several more very good prospects, such as pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp, shortstop Jason Donald, outfielder John Mayberry Jr. and catcher Lou Marson.
Halladay has a full no-trade clause and has informed Toronto which teams he'd be willing to go to. But one Halladay acquaintance said he's almost sure Halladay would approve the Phillies because they are a very likely playoff team. It doesn't hurt, either, that they train in Clearwater Fla., adjacent to Dunedin, the very town where Halladay lives.
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Please don't trade Happ... trading Drabek makes more sense for both Philly and Toronto.
Crossfire
Collegeville , PA
Total Comments (2)
Come on Dodgers...get in there!
Cuthberto
Total Comments (9)
The Yankees are scouting Halladay and Downs the closer. After that totally untrue Mets to Halladay rumor, I don't think Heyman can be believed anymore. I also think the Red Sox are involved in this.
Cate
Total Comments (21)
Based on Halladay's recent statements (likes playing in Toronto) and the fans reaction to him, the Jays will be crazy to trade him...they might get great prospects in the trade but it would send a really bad signal...either way, Ricciardi will be fired at the end of the season!
nedkelly
Total Comments (202)
I want LA to get him to, but having Halladay for the rest of this year and next year for russell martin and james loney or clayton kershaw isnt worth it.
losangelessuperstar
Total Comments (32)
Just get this over with!!! I hope the Phils don't deplete their farm system too badly. Such a deep organization right now. Halladay would be so nice though.
Hoosteady: COYS!!!
Bethesda , MD
Total Comments (313)
I always love the near fanatical loyalty fans have to prospects who have never achieved anything and probably won't. If LA can deal Martin and Loney for 1.5 years of Halliday and immediately be, at worst, the NL world Series favorite and, at best, have a great shot at the title, you do it. Period.
Halliday is a top 3 pitcher in the AL, meaning he is the best pitcher in the NL by a mile.
whocares2008a
Total Comments (31)
Nedkelly: I live in Toronto and honestly it seemed more likely that he'd be traded a week ago, as opposed to in the next few days. All the papers here are reporting how Roy's saying he doesn't think he's going anywhere, likes it here, wants to build a winner here. However, you go on to ESPN or SI and a trade is imminent.
Trading Roy Halladay would be the worst thing that franchise ever does. Why would a GM who is on the hot seat, and most likely going to be fired have the authority to trade the absolute best, most dedicated and important player on your team? It is asinine. It makes no sense. DFA Wells and Rios is you're worried about salary. Someone will pick em up eventually. This whole situtation stinks and JP Ricciardi isn't being honest with his reasons for wanting to trade Roy (i dont think at least). Either way, if i were a Phillies or Dodgers fan, I wouldn't get too excited.
The Jays could have one of the top rotations going into next year if Halladay stays. Halladay, Marcum, McGowan, Romero, Richmond. We have some solid arms in the pen, plus they could add Litsch, Janssen and Tallet to the pen. If they could find some solid, middle of the line up power then they'd be in a dogfight for the AL East.
Spo
Total Comments (132)
sorry, the REAL Happ showed up last night ... The only part of this deal is they can only move ONE of Taylor & Brown. Other than that give them whatever they want.
Three of Happs "wins" were vs WASHINGTON ... 2 in relief and 1 in a 5.1 inn outing. His other Ws? SD, Tor, Pit and FLA. Trade him now while his value is at his peak!!!
jcu123
Allentown, PA
Total Comments (6)
As a long time Jays fan, it would be devastating to see Roy traded. Not only in the true baseball terms, but in the community term. You have a player who gives his time and money to many charities in the area, his wife is also deeply involved in them also. I know this won't be figures into the pros and cons of the deals in the purest baseball senses, but it will make a big difference to the fans. I don't need to speak for his talent, it speaks for itself. I hope the head office is ready for a big drop in attendance and tv and radio audiences. I have spoke to many fans who say they won't follow the Jays if they deal Roy.
mamacelli
Total Comments (2)
I'll proofread my comments better next time... and fix the typos and grammatical errors... oops.
mamacelli
Total Comments (2)
Dear Dodgers, if you don't sign Halliday, it's way, way, way back and GONE!
Miss Oktober
Naples , FL
Total Comments (22)
The trade being rumoured here is not good enough. Being a Toronto fan, what Riccardi is demanding is, put into perspective if Toronto was trying to get Halladay, they'd have to give up Shawn Marcum, Adam Lind, Travis Snyder and a top prospect like J. P. Arencibia. So it seems like SI here is really air balling on the offer.
prizby
Toronto, ON
Total Comments (22)
I don't think Philly fans truly understand who they are on the verge of acquiring. Not only Is Doc the single greatest pitcher in the game today (name another active pitcher with at least 1 season of 20+ Wins, 240+ innings, 200+ K's and less than 40 Walks - You can't. Doc is on pace to do it a 3rd time this year) but he is the anti-Clemons: A class act, a great teammate and an outstanding mentor to young pitchers. Ask Ricky Romero (impending 2009 AL ROY) what he thinks of Roy. Trust me when I say this - you may lament the loss of 3-4 prospects now but after Doc's first post-game press conference (8IP, 7K, 5H, 1ER, 0BB, Win) you'll quickly forget the names of those kids. And you'll have an entire nation of new Philly fans rooting for you to repeat as WS champs. God Speed Roy Halladay, go get yourself a title.
sokey
Toronto, ON
Total Comments (104)
Whocares2008, you should learn how to spell his (Halladay's) name before mocking others.
The Phils will get him and Toronto will be getting very solid prospects so it's a win win.
Another World Series for the Phils, you betcha.
Phillywillwin2009
Dublin , OH
Total Comments (2)
I'd like all teams to be good and fans highly supportive; makes it special when your team wins. But Toronto is what, the 4th largest city in NA, and they don't support the team....attendance is terrible.......it's a big mkt team managed like a small mkt team.....problem is not Halliday, it's ownership.....Clean mgmt house, re-up Haliday, and get some power bats to be competitive in AL East, otherwise trade him and join the Pirates, Nats, and others in perpetual mediocrity
RHM
Trexlertown , PA
Total Comments (12)
Absolutely right. I think the Jays can get so much more for him in the off-season. One of the Phils top pitching prospects and one top outfield prospect, mixed with a couple lesser guys isn't a fair trade for the Jays - it's too risky to trade one of the top 2 or 3 pitchers in baseball for that. Even Happ has the ceiling of maybe a #3. The Jays' price should be Drabek, Carrasco, Brown, and Happ at least. Maybe even another position player. And the Phils should still make that deal, because Halladay makes them the odds-on favorite not only for this year, but for a potential three-peat. That's how good this team is. Even if the Phils top prospects are as good as hyped, they'll never crack that roster anyway. This is all lining up like a major steal for the Phillies.
King Jenrry
Total Comments (293)
It wasn't long ago the Jays were attracting 50K a night. Key is they were competing. It is easy to dump on fan support when you see low attendance figures. But we are talking about a team that has been south of 2nd place for 15 years now.
Outside of the Cubs, find a perenially also-ran that is drawing a significant crowd. It just doesn't happen. When the team isn't winning or has no chance, people stay home in droves. All sports
Splorch
Gainesville , FL
Total Comments (133)
And they HAVE to trade Roy now. Holding on to him means you have the best pitcher on an also ran team that has to purge salary.
What is the point of clinging to Roy, paying him $8million until the next deadline while you continue to languish in 4th, maybe 5th and get less in return.
The last time the Jays had a big time trade chip was Delgado and they fumbled that. Get what you can, NOW.
Splorch
Gainesville , FL
Total Comments (133)
I think they at least need to drag this down to the wire and make the Phillies really pay a hefty sum for him. I don't think it's necessarily bad if they go into the offseason and try to drag more teams into the running, because right now it looks as if there's one serious contender for him. They just can't botch it the way the Twins did with Santana.
King Jenrry
Total Comments (293)
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