Winter meetings, day 4
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Winter meetings, day 4
Andy Martino
Here’s Ruben Amaro a few minutes ago on the rumors that talks for Roy Halladay are intensifying between the Phillies and Blue Jays: “I don’t think there is any likeliness (of a big trade happening)…there is nothing likely. How about that?”
It was creative use of the world “likely.” Of course, no trade is “likely,” until just before it happens; there are too many variables and moving parts. But the Phillies are certainly more “likely” than about 27 other teams to acquire the ace.
As we’ve said all along, several factors would have to break the right way for Halladay to become a Phillie: The Yankees and Red Sox would have to bail, because if those two behemoths duked it out for Doc, they’d probably try to outdo one another with trade packages that eclipse what the Phils would want to present. The Yankees lost a few trade chips when they acquired Curtis Granderson last week, but still have the talent to get a deal done, if they are motivated (it should be noted that Yanks' GM Brian Cashman is fiercely protective of his prospects, and would find it difficult to continue trading them this winter).
If the Yanks and Sox do not remain serious players for Halladay, he would probably fall to the Phillies and Angels. According to the Toronto Sun, L.A. yesterday offered pitcher Joe Saunders, shortstop Erik Aybar, and outfielder Peter Bourjos for Halladay. That’s a good offer, and a comparable one from the Phillies, talent-wise, would have to include J.A. Happ and Michael Taylor (Cole Hamels will not be traded). There have been rumors that Halladay wouldn’t go to the Angels because they train in Arizona and the Doc lives in Florida, but it is important to note that he has never actually said that, at least publicly.
Here is what we know: The Phillies and Halladay have long expressed a mutual interest. The Phils have the talent to get a deal done, though they would have to increase payroll to add Halladay—something they have said they do not want to do. Other than the report of the Angels' offer, nothing has changed about this storyline in the past several days.
***
With the 26th pick in this morning’s Rule 5 draft, the Phillies selected RHP Kenneth Herndon from the Angels. Herndon, 24, is a 6 foot 5 reliever who throws a power sinker and slider. In the minor league portion of the draft, the Phils pitched RHP Angelo Sanchez, 20, from Minnesota.
“We really like the sinker he has,” pro scouting director Mike Ondo said of Herndon. “We have seen him for three or four years now.”
Pitching for Double-A Arkansas last season, Herndon went 5-6, with 11 saves and a 3.03 earned run average in 50 games. This winter, he pitched for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, going 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 appearances
A quick refresher on the Rule 5: Once selected, a player must remain on his new team’s 25-man roster for the entire next season—or the new team risks losing him to the old team again. Last year’s Rule 5-er was Bobby Mosebach, also an Angels reliever, who was returned to L.A. at the end of spring training. Shane Victorino was a notable recent Rule 5 choice who later found success.
The Mets selected righthanded pitcher Carlos Montasario from Lehigh Valley. Montasario came over in 2006 as part of the Bobby Abreu trade.
***
Reliever Brandon Lyon signed with Houston last night for a reported three years, $15 million. The righthander was a prime Phillies' target to improve the bullpen, but a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said that talks between the sides never gained any momentum at all. Amaro had a different take today, saying, "We were in pretty deep."
Comments (63)
the phils are quite content with the eagles-like philosophy which is, "bring in just enough talent to stay comptetive for an extended period and the masses will still eat from your hands." i want hallday too, but it isnt going to happen because the phils dont want to break this "budget." meanwhile, the word budget is not in the vocabulary of the yanks and red sox and they have won 3 out of the last 6 world series titles. so, stick to your "budget" ruben and we can become like the braves of the 90's, ya know....umpteen playoff appearances in a row but only 1 title to show for it!— theeducator- SAY IT AIN'T SO..... Reuben....We loot the Series due to our pitching problems....WE have a 2 to 3 year window with the best lineup in baseball.....Just get it done....Keep Lee, Hamels, Happ, Madeson and Lidge...Everybody else is tradeable on jsut cut.....free up the cash...THE TIME IS NOW...Just get it done....— nuggett
- Toronto won't take Blanton - he's only about half as expensive as Halladay and he's up for free agency next year. They might take Hamels, though he's going to get super expensive in a short amount of time also, and Amaro's not going to deal him unless he thinks he can sign Halladay and Lee beyond this season. The payroll space just isn't there. As for Happ, nothing we saw this past season makes me think that he has the potential to be a "dominant pitcher", as onthebucks said. He might be a 3, he could be a 4. So for one year, where that one year could win you another ring, Halladay may be worth Happ, plus Brown or Taylor, and someone like Flande or Savery, or someone else who projects as a big leaguer but not a star. I guess Toronto likes Brown better than Taylor, though I personally get the impression that Taylor's going to be really good also, from the little I've seen and read about him.— B in DC
- The strengths of a team's pitching is not necessarily the ability of ONE pitcher, but the entire pitching ROTATION. Right now we need to worry about bettering the rotation as a whole, not just 1 player. Would our rotation benefit with Halladay? Absolutely. But right now we have a good rotation with Lee, Hamels, Happ and Blanton. We don't need to give away a ton of our prospects for another ace. Just like we got Lee for "cheaper" and improved our rotation, Amaro needs to do the same again. If we can get Halladay without giving up much, great. Otherwise, I'd go for a good #4 or #5 starter and keep our prospects. Anyone saying that we should throw away our prospects for a proven 32 year old, doesn't make sense. Remember, Howard, Utley, Rollins and Hamels were all once prospects that (thankfully) Wade didn't trade away. It says something that the Phils' farm team was ranked #4. Not all prospects are considered equal. You can't just throw them away for a player that would only play for 1 year. I'd rather have Lee longterm than Hallady, if we had both here and had to choose after next year.— awl
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
His name is Hamels, not Hammels!! It's really hard to take your opinions seriously when you can't even get the guys name right. Cole is the future of this organization, anyone with half a brain knows this. It's something the pseudo fans can't wrap their heads around. Real fans understand this. Halladay is not the untouchable pitching God the morons on this forum are making him out to be, in fact he got rocked in the second half last season. Happ, Hamels, and Taylor or Brown? The people who think this is a smart move were the same people standing in line for a Vick Jersey 4 months ago. Thanks for making Philly fans look like idiots yet again!— mikestef100- Comment removed.
- The window of opportunity for the Phils to win another World Series is now! As more guys like Werth, Howard, and Lee get closer to new contracts, the ability to retain them all becomes slim. I'm ok with giving up a prospects to get a proven #1 caliber pitcher, who has successfully pitched against the best players in the American league. Prospects may never turn out to be what you hoped for....remember Marlon Byrd? Wasn't he supposed to be an all-star for this organization? Ruben get it done, so we can dust the shelf for our next World Series trophy.— jimmy610
- I think we get it... Enough of the Halliday stories already. How about a story later about how it's not likely to land A-Roid or Lincecum. Maybe even an article about how it's not probably to be yesterday tomorrow— reidbetweenthelines
- sorry onthebucks, you're off on this one. many flawed points in your thinking. you really over estimate the value of happ and hamels. yes, happ had a fantastic rookie year and yes, hamels had a brilliant 2008 and both have a CHANCE to be consistently dominant, but I think few would argue that Halladay IS the most dominant pitcher in the game today. You know what you are going to get with Halladay and it is most likely a WIN. He is the closest to a sure thing out there. Hamels and Happ are young and the Phillies would have salary security with Happ but if your goal is to win another championship then Halladay is the answer. You can't get something for nothing. Shuffle some salary, make some trades, give up some prospects... do what it takes to win.— BroadStreet
- I don't understand why five or six straight years of record attendance--the last with virtually straight sellouts, 73 of 81--back to back pennants, and a championship don't allow the Phillies to play in essentially any budgetary ballpark they want to--what's that money for, any how, if not to improve the team? Why is $140MM the cap? Where's the rest of it going?— rbbloom
- I would trade Happ. Would not trade Hamels. I've seen so many guys come in and do well for one year like Happ. He does not have great stuff. He is just ok....the 4th pitcher in your rotation. He will not win you a World Series now or in the future. Halladay could put the Phils in a great position to win in 2010.— philvill
- yeah, cause $140 million isn't an inflated payroll. Prospects are prospects - you do not know for sure if they are going to pan out. The window has about 2 years left to win the World Series. GO FOR IT!!— seaonasdad
- Listen to hamburger! Ruben, he makes a lot of sense. I tried to say this to Phillies fans on a message board somewhere else and I was lambasted and told to calm down. This is fire we're dealing with folks. 4 years from now you won't be able to recognize this team, who cares about the prospects. Chances are they won't win us a title either if the FO is worried about pinching pennies while the stadium is packed every night.— MVKrum
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