Mets/Yanks Should Go All Out for Halladay
By Mike Silva ~ July 7th, 2009. Filed under: Mike Silva.
Ken Rosenthal reports that Toronto may finally be ready to wave the white flag on 2009, and talk about trading Roy Halladay. He lists all the likely destinations in his column, but all we care about here is what would it take to get him to New York. Imagine Halladay combining with Burnett and Sabathia in the top of the Yankees rotation? How about a 1-2 in Flushing with Santana? What would it take and should either team give up key chips to make this happen? I say yes, and here are some proposals.
Would Toronto trade Halladay within the division? Rosenthal believes that they would have no aversion to trading him to the Yankees or Red Sox. This didn’t work when Johan Santana was available, but what are the odds of history repeating itself? The Yankees have tons of inventory in their system to choose from, at both the upper and lower levels. I would think any deal would require a major league caliber player along with top prospects. These players would have to be young and inexpensive since they owe Wells and Rios a ton of money. Now remember Yankees fans, trades like this are not pain free. How about a package of Joba Chamberlain, Austin Jackson, Mark Melancon, and Zach McAllister? I said Joba, go ahead and take a moment to scream and yell. Are you done? I think Phil Hughes will be a better pitcher long term than Joba, and that is why I included him in the deal. Also, Boston can deal a quantity of young arms (Lester, Buchholtz, etc.) so you will have to trump them. Joba, and the promises of greatness, will do just that. I am willing to risk him becoming great (which I have my doubts) for a chance at Halladay and a championship. With Melancon, McAllister, and Jackson Toronto gets the high upside prospects that a pitcher of Halladay’s caliber commands. This type of deal might become imperative, especially if Boston gets serious. The winner would have a huge advantage in head to head matchups on the field.
The Mets are a less likely destination because this type of deal, if it could be made, would require two things to happen. The Yankees and Red Sox would have to play hardball, as they did with Bill Smith in Minnesota, and force Halladay into the Mets laps. I think it’s unlikely, but historically neither the Yankees nor Red Sox like to pay value for value, but rather keep players away from each other. The Mets package would certainly not be as sexy as the Yanks, but you could give Toronto top prospects. I would offer Fernando Martinez, Wilmer Flores, Brad Holt, and Jonathan Niese. Give them the quantity of starters to keep Mike Pelfrey out of the deal, but more likely, you probably would have to substitute Big Pelf for either Niese or Holt. In some cases, you can argue that Pelfrey, unlike Chamberlain, has shown the ability to consistently win games at the big league level. Even so, I would have to seriously consider this if I were Omar Minaya. This is a deal that would be solid for this year, but give you a nice 1-2 punch for the prime years of Santana’s deal.
The X factor in all of this is Halladay’s health and willingness to sign an extension in New York. It’s too risky otherwise. The long and short of the situation is that Halladay is a difference maker and can bring a championship. Can you honestly see anyone beating the Yanks with him and Sabathia in a short series? The Mets have their problems, but Santana, Halladay, and the cavalry should be able to sneak into the playoffs. With Santana/Halladay the Mets could pitch with anyone. Right now this is obviously a fantasy, but many said the same thing when Johan Santana was available. Truth is stranger than fiction and don’t be surprised if we see the Toronto ace playing for the home team at a New York ballpark near you.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I can’t see Toronto trading Halladay here’s why: He is their franchise player. He is Jeter, MO and Posada all wrapped into one!When he pitches, the attendance usually doubles. Halladay has said he wants to stay in Toronto,the GM wants to keep him AND the ownership wants to keep him. The ownership is Roger Communications, which is Canada’s version of Cablevision. They make the Steinbrenners, wilpons AND John Henry look like paupers in comparison. They made a 1.1 billion dollar profit last year! Unlike Sterling(the Wilpons) who lost 300-700 million on the Madoff scandal. They realize that there would be a fan rebellion so trading Halladay would be suicide for the club. IN addition, JP is a very unpopular GM. Fans wouldn’t accept Ricciardi trading Halladay under any circumstances. Bad job by Rosenthal, who took JP’s comment out of context. And Mike, the Mets have nothing that the Jays want. The Jays have Travis Snider, they don’t need a Fernando Martinez. They would have to trade Reyes,Pelfrey and 3 more propects AND take on Rios contract, which they will NOT do AND they cannot financially. AS for the Yanks, once again the Blue Jay fans will tar and feather JP if that happens or to the REd Sox. He will be forever be demonized if that happens.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:12 am
This would be one of Omar’s dumbest moves were he to make it.
While our Pitching staff is not great, the trade would completely deplete our minor leagues. It would also entail a huge payday to make sure Halladay stayed. So we would have to part with our prospects and bucks. Yet he is a pitcher in his 30s so who knows how long he will justify the big bucks. AND, more importantly, he is unlikely to add punch to a punchless lineup. He will not hit home runs or drive in RBIs as one might have hoped from Reyes and Delgado — and even with those two our lineup was not on a par with the Phils or Skanks.
Sometimes, if your GM is a moron and has wasted resources and roster spots on extending contracts and picking up options on guys like Castillo, Delgado, Perez, the best thing to do is play out the hand until you get the replacement GM. Next year Delgado can come off the books, it will a year easier to eat the Castillo contract and perhaps a new GM can insist that he not be penalized for jettisoning Perez. That would open some salary and roster spots in FA and save whatever chips we have.
Not only does it make no sense to panic, having Omar engineer the panic move seems dumb too.
harlan
July 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Phil Hughes will not be better than Joba and it really won’t be close.
I love Hughes but his ceiling is probably a #2 starter for the majority of his career mixed in with a couple of years of #1 starter like numbers.
But Joba is going to eventually be one of the best pitchers in baseball. Mark my words.
Silva doesn’t get it because he doesn’t have any idea just how talented Joba really is.
As much as I like Halladay, I don’t see Cashman mortgaging the next decade for this season and next.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I am very skeptical about Rosenthal’s report. I seriously doubt Toronto is going to trade the one piece that can help them contend for next year. If Halladay does get traded, the chances of the Blue Jays contending get seriously diminished because who will replace Halladay’s production in their rotation. Also, Toronto is having issues with attendance. If Halladay were to get traded, attendance and revenue would decrease dramatically.
Second, I doubt Toronto would trade within the division. Toronto does want to see Halladay 5 or 6 times next year in another uniform, especially one of Boston or New York.
If he is available, then yes the yankees and mets should evaluate. However, I do not agree with gutting the farm for Halladay. Teams now adays do not trade away star prospects because of the new emphasis on cultivating young talent (especially now with the economy in the tank). If the deal however is reasonable, then absolutely the yankees or mets should consider.
July 7th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Mike
“I would offer Fernando Martinez, Wilmer Flores, Brad Holt, and Jonathan Niese. ”
Are you crazy? Are you one of those 15 year old kids that makes crazy trades on WFAN?
You can’t trade EVERY good prospect for one guy, regardless of who he is. Plus it should only take 2 top prospects or one top prospect and take Vernon Wells off of their hands. You can NOT decimate a farm system for a pitcher who can get injured and be done. Santana cost them one real prospect and a top A ball guy. Humber has already been released and Gomez is just ok right now.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Silva cmon you have to be joking, I may even agree trade Joba but you can’t include Austin Jackson he is our top outfield prospect. Also Halladay has been proven to be injury prone unlike Joba who seems pretty resilient. Joba is only 23 and he has great potential but yes if i was Cashman I would probably trade Joba Melancon and someone like Shelly Duncan but you can’t get rid of Austin Jackson if Joba is included in a deal.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Mike,
Just when we thought it was safe to have a trading deadline we have to see this dreck. Haliday is going nowhere near the Eastern Division of the AL. Actually, he probably won’t be traded at all. These teams still have to fill their ballparks. Don’t be suckered in by writers who have to fill columns to get paid.
Just what the Yankees need another 30+ pitcher making 200 mil.
Didn’t the Yanks beat him the other day?
July 11th, 2009 at 10:28 am
WELL THE yanks could use halladay but the yanks do not have to blow up there system a a five player deal well how about kennedy,igawa,pena austin jackson who really if you think about it does not fit in the yankees plans cause he cant play first cause of tex and the outfield is full cause when damon is gone they will probably go after bay just to keep him away from boston and add another weapon so that plus a catcher not (except cervelli) so there you have it kennedy,igaway,pena jackson and a catcher they yanks could use vernon wells and see how it goes if it goes well then they dont need to sign bay and they could trade nady away when he is back and also trade away wells and get not top prospects but get some B or C type prospects back so they have something to work with
July 11th, 2009 at 11:36 am
That’s a trade that will get Ricciardi fired.