Halladay remains top choice, Lee Plan B
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:
Halladay remains top choice, Lee Plan B
Andy Martino
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
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
--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.
So far this year the Indians are a combined 1-5 against the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers in Cliff Lee's starts...He hasn't started any games against the Rays or Angels. The Blue Jays are 5-4 in games started by Roy Halladay against those same 5 teams. One of those pitchers is an ace who can dominate the best teams every time on the mound. The other is a very good pitcher who struggles against the best teams but can dominate almost everyone else. Either one would be an upgrade, but which one is worth the price? I'm not sure if Lee definitely makes the Phils the favorite in the NL, but I know Halladay does.— ChrisInVT- Zorro --- I don't usually find Murphy very enlightening but if you go back to his column on July 18th he describes 3 possibilities for the Phils and Haren was one of them. Late yesterday Martino's column said the whole Phillies front office loaded up and went to Arizona. Now I find it a little unusual that they all want to go on the road trip to Arizona and Frisco. Maybe its nothing but if they have a shot at Haren and its a good fit for both teams than whats to stop them from making the deal. Also I think Toronto's GM is trying to get one over on the freshman GM by what he has done in the past week. I hope we make a serious offer to Arizona and they accept.— Wally 24
- Yeah, I read both reports, Wally. It's very interesting that the whole FO is traveling with the team to Arizona. That don't necessarily means there are going to push for a Haren trade, but is possible. My guess is that they are working around the clock to make something happen. To tell you the truth, I rather get Haren than Hallady, for two obvious reasons, age and he is under contract. ==== wxdavid, teams deny there is something going on all the time. I don’t know if you follow football or have been a sports follower for a long time, but remember when Michael Smith from ESPN reported McNabb and Banner met about the QB’s contract and status of the team? The team denied it. Well, Smith was not only right, McNabb was extended a few months later.— EL Zorro
- Haren is under contract for a longer period of time, shoud say.— EL Zorro
- Why not try and make a move for Lee and Halladay? If we can get Halladay for a Drabek, Brown, Happ combo, why not pull the trigger and then pick up Lee for Carassco and Donald? We could even throw in Moyer's contract which should be attractive trade bait. Could you imagine a rotation of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Happ, and Martinez? WOW. :) Just dreaming I guess...— JoshinPA
- Yes I do remember that and I agree with your reasoning on why Haren would be more attractive for the Phils. With all the hype, wild speculation, etc. sometimes its the little things that tip off those in the know. Whatever they do lets hope its not a regretable decision by this time next year.— Wally 24
- OOPS sorry.. rotation would by Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Blanton, and Martinez/Moyer depending on trade scenerio's... what a pipe dream :)— JoshinPA
- The trading deadline is not until Friday. It's only Monday morning. We have LOTS of time until anything might happen.— smel4727
- wally enough all ready.. go to arizonas websites and MLB.com there have been offers for haren and arizona has publicly annouced that they are not listening to offers.. he is not available..you cant buy a house if it isnt for sale!!!!halladay will be here mid week.. its the only real option that toronto has.— bleed green forever
- "betsy72, will you marry me? I promise to love and obey and NOT to invite Stoky to the ceremony." Sorry Mick, but I'm taken. I'm sure you're destroyed about that;)— betsy72
- what's wrong with the philly.com homepage and sportspage? None of the links to the latest phillies articles are up there. I had to go to the Inquirer page to find this.— betsy72
Comment removed.- O.K., here's the story from Toronto. The Jays won't budge on their request of Happ, Drabek, Donald, and Brown. There is NO desire for Carrasco AT ALL. As stated, he's a "second-tier" player. Drabek is a must, as T.O. is knee deep in young lefty starters (i.e. Romero, Cecil, Rcyb&%@#$%ski), and need a right-hander to replace Doc. As for Lee, last year, while Lee was in T.O., he was to go head-to-head against Doc in the second half of the season. HE SKIPPED HIS START FOR AN EXTRA DAY OF REST! He won the Cy young and Doc came second, but give me Doc anyday over that guy.— T.O.Lanny
- As a Phillies fan since 1954 and a Jays fan since 1976 the Phils take precedence. Ricciardi's playing games with everyone. He has no intention of trading Doc unless he gets the world. Don't forget,J.P. won't be around next year. Why aren't we looking at Oswalt. He's a horse too.— ed catlin
- Get over Doc. He ain't coming. Hamels,Myers,Blanton,Happ,Pedro should suffice. What about closer if Lidge can't cut it. Ever see Brandon League. 98 mph w/great movement, 82 mph change, closer mentality. Could get cheap if you gotta have a Jay. Jamie could go to pen and work with him. We still CAN hit a bit,too.— ed catlin
