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Halladay and agent in Philadelphia UPDATED

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512 comments

Halladay and agent in Philadelphia UPDATED

POSTED: Monday, December 14, 2009, 2:45 PM

Andy Martino

Who would you rather have, Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee?

UPDATED, 10:00pm

So where are we at the end of a long day of reports--ours and others'-- flying across the World Wide Web about the Lee/Halladay stunner? Not quite there, it appears, but headed in the direction of a huge trade.

A baseball source told the Inquirer tonight that a deal was not totally done. There were several other indications that it was close. With a contract extension to be worked out, medical records to be reviewed, and three teams needing to make final decisions, it is no surpise that this is taking time. The names batted around as future Blue Jays in various reports were pitchers Kyle Drabek, outfielders Michael Taylor or Domonic Brown. CSNphilly.com had the first report of Drabek being included, which was later followed up on by the Toronto Sun.

Ruben Amaro did not respond to phone calls seeking comment today, and team president David Montgomery said he "could not comment." It is the Phillies' policy never to publicly address trade talks.

Keep this in mind: Even if the Phils lose Drabek in this deal, they would be surrendering less than the package requested in July of Drabek, Brown, J.A. Happ and Anthony Gose for Halladay.

Baseball America considers Drabek a potential no. 2 or 3 starter, and wouldn’t you give that up to get Halladay? We also know that both teams place a higher value on Brown than on Taylor—so if Taylor is a part of this deal instead of Brown, that is considered a discount from the July offer.

The AP reported today that Happ, Brown and Joe Blanton took physicals in Philly today, but there were no other indications that those players were involved.

This information is all tentative and speculative because a deal has not yet been finalized. There are indications that an official announcement could come within the next day or two. Until that time, anything can happen.

***

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay and his agent have checked into a Philadelphia-area hotel, according to two Inquirer sources.

It is not known if a trade sending Halladay to the Phillies is imminent, but if Halladay and the Phils are negotiating--as is indicated by the pitcher's presence in Philadelphia--that would suggest that the Phils and Blue Jays are far enough along in talks for Halladay to discuss a potential contract extension with the Phils. Halladay has one year remaining on his contract before becoming a free agent.

The Phils have long been linked to Halladay, and were actively involved in trade talks last July, before the team acquired lefthander Cliff Lee from Cleveland.

UPDATE, 3:04-- The plot thickens: Foxsports.com has added that the Phils are in talks regading a potential three-team deal that would send lefthander Cliff Lee to an unnamed club. This makes sense for a number of reasons:

--Lee is owed $9 million next year, and the Phils need to clear payroll to sign Halladay.

--Lee will be a free agent after this season, and if he tests the open market the Phils would find it difficult to re-sign him, given their already robust payroll.

--Acquiring Lee may net the Phils some of the prospects requried to complete a deal, without having to give up players like pitcher J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek, outfielders Domonic Brown, Michael Taylor and Anthony Gose.

UPDATE, 5:03pm

Cliff Lee's agent, Darek Brauneker, says he has not heard anything from the Phillies, Blue Jays, Mariners or anyone else today.

Multiple reports--SI.com, I believe, was the first to confirm it--have Halladay and Lee involved in a three-way that would send Lee to Seattle. A bunch of other names are surfaced, but reports are conflicting--some have Domonic Brown going to Toronto, while others have it as Michael Taylor. Pitcher Phillippe Aumont would reportedly be going to Toronto from Seattle. It should be noted that none of this is confirmed. We know that both the Jays and Phils liked Brown more than Taylor in July.

Brauneker has spoken with Lee today. "He is obviously aware of the situation,' Braunker said. "There must be something to it."

Brauneker, understandably, treaded carefully when asked if Lee was disappointed. "He certainly enjoys being in Philadelphia. There was not much for him not to enjoy."

The Phils and Lee engaged in preliminary talks about a contract extension last week. "We had a positive dialogue," the agent said. "All of the dialogue has been very positive on both sides."

512 comments

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Comments (512)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:25 PM, 12/14/2009

While it seems like the Phillies would be trading an ace for an ace, we would be gaining an ace with an extension beyond this season. It appears like the Phillies have tried to acquire Halladay without giving up Lee, or any of their top farm prospects, or even Happ.

— PA_Logic

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:25 PM, 12/14/2009

Can't see giving up Lee. But if he's not signable to a long term contract then Amaro might be making a good trade. He loses Lee but gets Halladay for three years? On the back of another teams prospects? That could be a pretty smart move.

— Tiller

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:26 PM, 12/14/2009

I want holiday as bad as anybody. But trading Cliff Lee for holiday does not, does not, DOES NOT improve your baseball team. Just once in my life, I wish a sports team in this town would step up and use their common sense. Common sense is all it takes to win in any sports. The phillies have the prospects to make an attractive trade to get Holiday. You don't trade an ace for an ace. You trade your young prospects for an ace. That's smart thinking. That's common sense. The phillies really need to be the franchise that uses it's common sense. This isn't rocket science. Don't be like the dum as sixers. Don't be stupid. Trading Cliff Lee for holiday straight up is STUPID on the phillies part. The way you improve your baseball team is not to make equal trades, but trades that add to your talent. You add to Cliff Lee and Hamels. You can have both of these guys. Let me repeat that. You can have both of these guys. Just trade away your prospects. It's simple for the phillies. Real simple. Is holiday worth trading way your future to win another world series now? Toronto wants either the phillies prospects or Cliff Lee. The smart thing for the gm of the phillies to do is to give Toronto any ANY prospects Toronto wants. That's the smart thing to do. The dum thing is to trade Lee for holiday. That's the dum STUPID thing to do. Don't be stupid phillies. You got the prospects. Trade them for holiday. If you really want to win another world series, sacrifice your future and really really really go for it all right now to get holiday. Their are plenty of other trades the phillies can make for holiday instead of trading your ace pitcher Lee. Don't be a stupid franchise. The sixers are STUPID and we all see how successful they are. How bad do you want another world series? If the gm is really smart and really wants to win another world series, he will trade prospects and other players for holiday. Don't trade Lee for holiday. That's dum, STUPID. Use common sense.

— evensteven

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:26 PM, 12/14/2009

Not awesome. They need to keep Lee. He was the only dependable starter after August 1. Why would you get rid of Lee for Doc. I really like the concept of Halladay, Lee and Hamels as your #3. If you get rid of Lee for Doc then you still only have a #1, and a partial #2 in Hamels (only if he returns to form).

— Philalawyer

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:27 PM, 12/14/2009

It's amazing how everyone was on the Cole Hamels bandwagon in '08 and all of the sudden they are willing to throw him to the curb in '09. People, he is 25 years old, has not even remotley come close to his prime years. He will bounce back this year and I fully expect my the All-Star break for everyone to jump aboard the Cole train.

— ESFjellin

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:28 PM, 12/14/2009

Phils are afraid Lee will go to open market at end of year as he has said he will.

— phillyabe

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:28 PM, 12/14/2009

This doesn't make sense. If you keep Lee for the year than Great! Otherwise, does it help you that much? How much more could Lee have done last year for this to be such a upgrade? Did he have to pitch no hitters every time out? Check the stats folks, Lee pitched better last year. Phils still have issues at the back end of the rotation with this move. Keep Lee for a discounted 9 million this year and if he walks after, so be it. Still have a better chance to win NOW!

— bmahon