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)
Unlike bobphxville and many other posters over the last few weeks, I don't want to see the Phillies bankrupt the farm system for just one year of Halladay. We've got some great prospects coming up, and I'm looking forward to watching them play over the years. Yes, with Halladay, we'd have a great shot at another playoff run (but remember everyone, the playoffs are a crapshoot). But we have a good shot at that as is, and I'd rather not see 2012-2016 be lost years because our cupboard of prospects are bare. I plan to keep following the Phillies after 2010, so I'd rather not risk it all on one roll of the die like some people inexplicably want them to do.— amc312- If either Hamels or Happ go, then the Phillies are still one pitcher short for the regular season, but what a top of the rotation with Halladay and Lee! The in the playoffs your number five starter can get lost. A rotation of Halladay, Lee, Happ or Hamels, Blanton, and someone to hold down the fifth spot until Kyle Drabek is ready sounds OK to me. On another track, I have no problem with Smoltz as a short reliever. His days as a starter are over, but he can still bring it for an inning.— Carmine
- get rid of of Hamels ?!? Are you people mad?? Guy has one off season and you throw him under the bus, He wil bounce back this coming season you wait and see.— Will.i.Am
- Hamels, Hamels, his name is Hamels— Captain
- There's a report on Foxspors.com there's a deal on the table--Happ, either Brown or Taylor, and a lower level prospect for Halladay. The Phils are also looking at bringing in Jason Marquis to compete as a 5th starter. Now, the only way they trade Blanton is if they can get some decent relief pitching in return. I agree with R Mexico--the fans deserve at least 1 year of an inflated payroll. Getting Halladay doesn't guarantee the team a spot in the WS--however, if they did get him and they didn't make it, no one could say they didn't try.— bobbyuk
- onthebucks...JA Happ is not Sandy Koufax. It's no sure thing that he'll ever be as good as he was this year. When he's won 20 games and he's pitched 200 innings then start to talk. Having Halladay on this team gives us a much better chance of winning the WS, then Happ.— booman55
- The problem is Halladay and Lee can't pitch complete games all year without their arms falling off. Whose going to close these games? If Houston just got Lyon does that mean they're going to let Valverde walk?— phasor
- canberry juice!!! LOL, that was funny!!!! "Departed"— sdot1
- Why all this thing about taylor or brown? they are not playing in the bigs right now and we dont know how will they perform.does marlon bird remind you guys something? These kids are just prospects make the damn trade or shut up.— Phillies08
- In a year or two after we do zero to help the starting five Hamels does his 09' replay again the fans will be screaming we should have gotten Halladay. This club like the rest in the city do the same thing over and over. They have more reasons to do nothing than to go and make the moves necessary. Look across the street they brought back Reid and for what the same show we know the ending to. The Sixers bring back a retread and for what some old fans comming back to relive the AI days...paaaaleeese! The Phils are just the same no different and they make you believe you never saw this act before. WRONG!— DDH1205
- phasor..Brad Lidge will close the games with Madson and Romero setting him up. If any of them fail, you can acquire reinforcements in July.— booman55
- dudes, come on, get real. Hamels seems to be a stud, but he has to get his act together. Brett Myers is the only pitcher the Phils can say they developed who won consistently- in 7 seasons since 2003 he won 10 more games FIVE times. and still, i don't think ANY of us would say Myers was a great starter or staff ace. so, they need to keep Hamels and while Haap looks very good, he has to prove it with a tough 2nd FULL year as a starter. look at Kendrick...UP AND DOWN but still with potential. so, in the mean time, the real question is are the Phils and the fans willing to part with TOP outfield and infield prospects, not to mention a Draybek for Halladay? YES! top starting pitching is the hardest thing to find - make it happen. I GUARANTEE YOU that the Yanks don't regret having CC now.— MichaelZoe
- Heard a discussion on ESPN yesterday about Halliday and possible trades. Several teams, including the Cardinals, Red Sox and Yankees, were mentioned but not the Phils. While the Phils were reverting back to an infielder whose stats are not that much better than what they have gotten rid of, the Yankees picked up an All Star center fielder.— atp2007
- mikestef100 and Y71s73: That is not true. In fact, anyone who knows baseballs, other GMs, and more importantly OTHER HITTING COACHES figured out Cole after his 2nd year and he got ROCKED. fastball / changeup works in the minors; you need a third pitch or varying breaking ball to compete. Ask Cliff Lee. We HOPE and THINK he is the future, but no GM or pitching coach in their right mind believes he is ready to be the top dog or they wouldn't have gone out to get Cliff Lee. Run the down the list of top Pitching draft picks, pitchers that we've traded away, and those top pitchers after their first year and you will see a laundry list of has-beens, injuries, and disappearing acts. that's just the way it is in baseball. pitchers are the most unpredictable performers in MLB. so when you have a shot to get a proven game winner, you get him. period. end of story.— MichaelZoe
- honestly, the fans are drunk and high on our team. do you how precious these moments are and how RARE it is to make it to the WS back to back? GET HALLADAY.— MichaelZoe
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