More Halladay madness at the Winter Meetings
Updated: December 9, 2009

By Zaki, PhillyGameday.com

I think everyone is pretty numb to the prospect of the Phillies somehow trading for Roy Halladay by now — especially since we get to trot Clifton Phifer Christ out there every fifth day — but SI’s Jon Heyman is saying the team is jumping into the mix again.

These things rarely actually turn out the way we all think they will, but it’s looking like the Angels are in the best position to land Halladay with the Phils just sticking around to see how far the price may drop before they consider getting heavily involved.

Right now, the Angels are reportedly offering Joe Saunders, Erick Aybar and minor league OF Peter Bourjos for Halladay, which is a less than the summer asking price of Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ and either Domonic Brown or Michael Taylor, but still pretty steep. I’d say a similar deal with the Phillies would involve Happ, Taylor and either Shane Victorino or a lower-level prospect, which is doable but still a bit much.

Not only is there the issue of the trade, but with Lee and Halladay’s contracts expiring after 2010, the Phils would essentially have to choose between one or the other, so this is looking like a one-year fling even if it gets done. Stranger things have happened, though. I think with the right combination of a World Series win next season and if Dave Montgomery knocks off a couple banks, we could work something out and keep both pitchers for the next 10 years and completely forget what it was ever like to watch losing baseball in this town.

Zaki is the Chief Rocka and senior writer for PhillyGameday.com.
Comments

2 Responses to “More Halladay madness at the Winter Meetings”

  1. Nick on December 10th, 2009 7:33 pm

    Man I wish they would get him, but I don’t want to get rid of Victorino/Werth. I’m fine with Happ going. He’s probably never going to repeat his 2009 season - wasn’t he only a mid-level prospect and #3 type pitcher in the first place? Can’t give up part of your core for a 1 year rental.

  2. Zaki on December 10th, 2009 9:12 pm

    If there’s anyone I wouldn’t mind parting with, it’s Werth since Brown and Taylor are looking to be similar players (if not better) in a few years, but yeah I’m on the fence about Happ. He had a pretty solid minor league career and has had nothing but success at the major league level.

    The interesting part is that Happ is actually older than Hamels and yet we’re treating Happ like the “prospect”. I wouldn’t cry foul if he’s included in a deal for Halladay and I’d be fine if the rotation stayed as is. I think the only guys I don’t want to see go anywhere are Michael Taylor and Kyle Drabek.

Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!