Posted: Sunday, July 26, 2009, 4:10 PM | 91 comments |
 

Halladay remains top choice, Lee Plan B
options
 

There have been numerous reports on the back-and-forth between the Phils and Jays, enough to make your head spin. So here is what we know right now:

--The Phillies’ strong preference is to acquire Halladay, but they were expected to send superscout Charley Kerfeld to watch 2008 American League Cy Young Award Winner Cliff Lee pitch for Cleveland in Seattle today. While Halladay is due $15.75 million next season, Lee is owed just the remainder of his $5.75 million salary this year, and a $9 million team option for next season. Lee functions as a plan B, and a way to let the Jays know that the Phils have other options. 

Baseball sources indicate that the Phillies might be able to pry Lee away from Cleveland with a package of second-tier prospects like Carlos Carrasco and Jason Donald (by second-tier, I mean not phenoms like Kyle Drabek and Dominic Brown). 

--The Phillies are highly reluctant to surrender both Drabek and J.A. Happ. Outfield prospects Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown have been mentioned as possible pieces in a deal, and both teams believe that Brown has more potential than Taylor. A Blue Jays scout is watching Brown today in Clearwater, Fla.

--The entire Phillies front office will be on a plane to Arizona tonight to discuss these issues.  They typically only travel with one executive, but trade deadline week is a wild one. Stay tuned.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 4:10 PM  Permalink | 91 comments
91
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:18 PM, 07/26/2009
    I think we should go after Lee. The difference in ERA is nominal, and we won't have to give up as much. Remember, Lee is also a CY Young Winner.
    — FloridaBrian
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:21 PM, 07/26/2009
    If Lee can be had for what you just listed....I say why not? He's certainly shown he can be effective! And by the way, look what Blanton just did again today...and we supposedly "settled" for him last year!
    — SMOKEY811
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:27 PM, 07/26/2009
    I think they should trade for Lee and keep the top prospects. They just need to get a top 10 pitcher not the best pitcher. Getting Halladay ensures nothing.
    — jeep
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:29 PM, 07/26/2009
    One thing to keep in mind with prospects is that teams and scouts often disagree on which players have more potential and these are basically just educated guesses. Last season at this time, Carrasco, Donald and Marson were considered our top prospects and now they are being called "second-tier" prospects.
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:34 PM, 07/26/2009
    The "getting Halladay doesn't guarantee anything" argument is not a valid argument. Obviously, nothing is guaranteed. If we do nothing, we aren't guaranteed to win. If we get Halladay, we aren't guaranteed to win. If we get Lee, we aren't guaranteed to win. There are no guarantees in sports...it's all about giving yourself the best chance to win and Halladay is a significantly better pitcher than Lee and gives us a better chance to win. You could argue against any trade by saying it shouldn't be done because getting the players in the trade won't guarantee that we win.
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:45 PM, 07/26/2009
    Showing interest in Lee might get the Jays brass thinking more. I know they have a stud in Halladay but it's not exactly that we have a poor rotation already. Lee could be a big help and we wouldn't have to 'break the bank' to get him.
    — erniebanks14
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:46 PM, 07/26/2009
    I'm not hearing anything in the wind about Dan Haren, and the Phils are heading to Arizona for three games. To me, Haren would be a better Plan B (if available) than Lee.
    — southpaw57
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:47 PM, 07/26/2009
    Hey, let's get both Halladay and Lee! JK. Would rather still get Halladay if the Jays will settle for Happ, Taylor +1 or 2 not named Drabek or Brown. Just my opinion.
    — Phillyache
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:52 PM, 07/26/2009
    There is no evidence that Haren is on the market. I have no idea why people keep bringing him up. Of course he would be a great alternative, but Arizona has shown no signs of trading him.
    — Mike P
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:01 PM, 07/26/2009
    I think Haren is a Plan A.....look at his stats.
    — rockinrob
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:05 PM, 07/26/2009
    Cliff Lee is left-handed. We already have 3 in the rotation. I don't see that being the optimal situation.
    — booman55
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:07 PM, 07/26/2009
    Arizona isn't going to trade Haren. They have a young team already and they will get Webb back next year.
    — Rod72
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:13 PM, 07/26/2009
    The Phillies current winning ways is showing the Blue Jays that we can survive just fine without their ace ... however, the Jays need to get something for Halladay before letting him walk at the end of next season. The Phillies have the upper hand in these negotiations ... the Jays will cave, or get nothing.
    — chris duckworth
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:17 PM, 07/26/2009
    Lee going to dodgers in a huge trade...
    — fman727


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