Jays Will Make Halladay Available; Do the Yanks Have a Shot?
July 7, 2009 · Greg Cohen · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
From Ken Rosenthal:
Let the Roy Halladay sweepstakes begin.“We have to see what’s out there,” Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “I’m not saying we’re going to shop him. But if something makes sense, we at least have to listen. We’re (leaning) more toward listening than we’ve ever been.”
They’re falling out of contention. They probably cannot afford to keep Halladay when they owe outfielders Vernon Wells and Alex Rios approximately $160 million combined from 2010 to ’14. And they know that Halladay would prefer to pitch for a winner anyway when he becomes a free agent after next season.
Oh, and one other thing: The trade market is barren of quality starting pitchers, much less one who is a true difference-maker and one of the top five starters in the game.
The Jays’ goal is obvious: to make the same type of deal that the Indians did when they traded right-hander Bartolo Colon in 2002, acquiring outfielder Grady Sizemore, left-hander Cliff Lee and second baseman Brandon Phillips.
Money is tighter now.
Prospects are considered gold. But this is not three months of C.C. Sabathia we’re talking about. This is Halladay for the rest of the season and all of 2010, at salaries of $14.25 million (pro-rated) and $15.75 million.
Rosenthal also mentioned that Halladay has a full no-trade clause, and that it seems that playing for a contender would be important to him.
As for the Yanks, here’s what Rosenthal said about their chances to land Halladay:
The Jays will not hesitate to dangle Halladay to the Yankees and Red Sox, who will be perhaps their two most fervent suitors. A’s GM Billy Beane never rules out trading within his division. Ricciardi, Beane’s former assistant, probably would not, either.
The Yankees invested a combined $243.5 million on Sabathia and A.J. Burnett last offseason, and Halladay might be better than both of them. Right-hander Phil Hughes could top the team’s package, and one GM who recently examined the Yankees’ system says, “There are more intriguing guys down low than I anticipated.”
Among them: catchers Jesus Montero, 19 and Austin Romine, 20.
Rosenthal mentions the Red Sox, White Sox, Phillies, Dodgers, Rangers, Cubs, Mets, Brewers and Braves as other possible suitors.
I love the Yanks to get Halladay, and a one-two-three of Halladay, Sabathia and Burnett is as good as it gets.
But, I don’t see the Yankees trading away everything they have in the farm to land him.
Do they trade Hughes? What about Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero? Will Ricciardi ask for all three?
The Yanks need to be smart and see what the trade market is and plan accordingly.
Even if they don’t trade for him, as long as the Sox don’t get him, it’s a win-win for the Yankees just to get him out of the division.
OK, you’re Brian Cashman, what would you be willing to give up to get Halladay?
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