How else might the Blue Jays help the Phillies?
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How else might the Blue Jays help the Phillies?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Having not typed the name "Roy Halladay" at any point in the last 24 hours, I fear my fingers are losing the muscle memory I had built up in preparation for this final week before the trade deadline. As I Twitter-ed a couple nights ago, it is my opinion that the Phillies odds at landing Halladay have increased over the week. Kyle Drabek is still in play, regardless of the reports you read stating that he was out of contention. But if the Phillies are going to give up the package it might take to land Halladay, don't be surprised if Doc isn't the only Toronto player headed south. The Blue Jays have several role players would could help the Phillies fill another one of their needs, whether it is another arm for the bull-pen or a right-handed bat off the bench.
Below are six players who could help the Phillies, four of whom would appear to be in the realm of possibility.
Would the inclusion of any one of these players make a blockbuster package that includes Drabek more palatable?
Here is a breakdown (P.S. - Pedro Martinez will indeed start on Sunday for Class A Clearwater, as has been expected. But I'm sure you already knew that):
1) Marco Scutaro, INF
Plusses: He is 33 years old, a right-handed hitter, and a free-agent-to-be who is owed roughly $500,000 for the rest of this season, which means he is an ideal candidate for the Blue Jays to move. He is hitting .286/.383 with eight home runs and 43 RBI, is 8-for-12 on stolen bases, and is hitting .286/.406 against lefties. He can also play anywhere in the infield, and has spent some time in the outfield.
Minuses: Doesn't have a lot of experience as a pinch-hitter (7-for-42 career). Is a career .252 hitter against lefties.
2) Jason Frasor, RHP
Plusses: Is 31 years old and due to make roughly $700,000 over the rest of the season. Is a free agent after this year. Is 5-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 39 appearances (36 innings pitched). Has held righties to a .156 average. Since June 1 has held opponents to a .226 average and posted a 2.08 ERA. The Phillies already have three pitchers capable of going multiple innings in Chan Ho Park, Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin and two lefties in Scott Eyre and J.C. Romero, which means there is a spot for a guy who can come in and run through a stretch of right-handed batters.
Minuses: Adding Halladay's salary could make Frasor cost-prohibitive, unless the Phils move another salary out.
3) Kevin Millar, INF
Plusses: The Phillies looked at Millar in the offseason, but like most right-handed bats, the veteran opted to head for somewhere where playing time was more plentiful. A veteran who has been part of winning clubs. Has power. Is due to earn roughly $400,000 the rest of the season and is a free agent at the end of the year. Is hitting .298/.347 vs LHP this season.
Minuses: At 37, has seen his production drop each of the last three seasons. Has been used mostly at DH this season, although can play third and first. Career .200 pinch-hitter, including 0-for-8 this season. Hitting .237 this year.
4) Brandon League, RHP
Plusses: Due to earn roughly $300,000 the rest of this season. Arbitration-eligible. Has held righties to .233 BAA (.276 lefties). 4.80 ERA.
Minuses: Would he be an upgrade?
5) Scott Downs, LHP
Plusses: 2.08 ERA with nine saves this season.
Minuses: Owed roughly $1.75 million for rest of this season and $4 million next. Phils probably wouldn't want to take on that kind of salary, with Madson, Romero and Lidge due to earn signficant money next year.
6) Scott Rolen, 3B
Plusses: Would make for a great story, not to mention a hell of a right-handed bat to break up the Phillies' lefties. A line-up of Rollins, Utley, Rolen, Howard, Ibanez, Victorino, Werth, Ruiz would present some intriguing possibilities. Plus, who wouldn't want to see the smoke steaming from the stands at Citizens Bank Park as fans try to figure out if they should cheer or boo him.
Minuses: Besides the fact that there is no way it will happen? Pedro Feliz is hitting .293/.341 this season, has displayed more power than Rolen over the last two-plus years, and is not a huge drop-off defensively. Oh, and there is the $17 million Rolen is owed through next season.
Has anyone explored (beyond Phillies1120) a scenario of a Halladay and Wells for a package of prospects? I would think that the addition of Wells (although adding $4+M) would provide a versatile RH bat + insurance should any current starting OF get hurt + provide protection if either Victorino or Werth were not resigned (in 2010/2011 respectively). As far as prospects go-I would err on more pitchers than positional players if possible. Happ/Carrasco/Drabek all unproven with potential-Halladay=HoFer— ATrucksess- Happ will not be part of this deal...it doesn't make any sense to do that. Happ is the only consistent part of this rotation; they want Halladay to come in and add to it. Happ is probably going to get 5-8 more wins this season. Halladay would probably get 7-10 if we got him. So you replace a possible 8 for a possible 10 on a shaky (but improving) 5 man rotation, or you have them both, and both pitching well get a possible 18 between the two of them. 1 Stud starting pitcher isn't going to solve the problems of a shaky full rotation...just ask the Mets how its working for them. Happ needs to stay in order for Halladay's presence to really make a difference. Lopez would become the odd man out most likely (or the man on the move as part of the package...but not the big prize of it, that is still Drabek), and Martinez would end up in limbo, or be coming out of the pen if Halladay comes here.— TKE_535
- The Phils would never take Vernon Wells. Do you see what he will make over the next couple of years, like 23 mill? And where would he play? You going to take Ibanez, Victorino or Werth out of the lineup? Ricciardi's getting desperate, looking to keep his job, which he may not whichever way it goes. He offered Halliday too early and now he says he probably won't trade him. Teams are getting tired of being played.— mike l
- Rolen? That's just silly.
- I remember distinctly Rolen denying he ever made the heaven comment. I tend to believe him. It doesn't seem like something he would have said. That said, he whined his way out of town. He's too thin-skinned to play in Philly. I don't want him. Plus, Feliz is doing just fine at 3rd, thank you.— derrickwh
- I would give up two of these but not all three. It would make me feel better if they throw in Downs though.— MattPSU
- Nobody is suggesting we trade for Rolen.— EL Zorro
- Only Leslie want Rolen.— mick314
- Rolen couldn't play in Philly before we disliked him - did you really have to mention him here? He may be a good player, but from a PHILLY perspective, he's a slug. Happ OR Drabek; not BOTH. Sorry, Mr. Ricciardi, but nice try. PK— PhillyTheKid
- NO WAY!!!!!! Trading Happ for Halladay is S T U P I D !!!!!! give up the guy doing the best for another that will be the best - where is the upgrade? Happ is young, and will be there for years. Halladay is gone after next season!!!! This is so stupid, they will probably do it.— kearnjo
- Downs and Scutaro are the only guys I would seriously be interested in. Not that the other guys couldn't help, but League is too inconsistent and there is no way Rolen is coming back...mostly because he isn't much of an upgrade and is expensive. Frasor might be worth a look, however.— MrPhillie
- Indulge me for a minute. I've long believed the Phils would be better off (long term) by moving Rollins while he still has value (should have done it already). That would require a third team at this point, but if the Jays include Scutaro in the Halladay deal, you lessen the hit to our farm system since the third team taking Rollins would pitch in their prospects. So, for example, we give up Brown and either Happ or Drabek, and we get Halladay and Scutaro. Rollins goes to the third team, and the third team's prospects go to the Jays. The beauty of this, in my opnion, is that you get Victorino in the lead-off spot where he belongs and he starts learning to be a leadoff hitter today.— bm2626
- i wouldn't mind if the phillies re did there bench. they need a better hitting back up for the infield.— sch723
- lets get Scutaro, and halliday . give them kendrick, carrasco, drabek ? and mayde two other guys— sch723
- Glass House Guy, you shouldn't bring up the Schilling trade when you admittedly don't know what you are talking about. Southpaw starter Omar Daal was the center piece of that deal for the Phils. He was 28 years old and went 8-12, 2.88 and 16-9, 3.65 the previous two seasons. Travis Lee was the 2nd pick in the draft in 1996 and hit 22 HRs his rookie year in 1998. Nelson Figueroa was a 25 year old starter with 76-45 minor league record in 5 years and Padilla was actually the unaccomplished throw in. So at the point of the deal, Daal trumps Happ, Lee = Drabek, Figueroa = Brown, and Padilla = another prospect throw-in. I think the D-Backs are very pleased with that deal as the Phillies will be if they can get Halladay for Happ, Drabek, Brown + 1.— jtj06
