Do The Phillies Need Roy Halladay?

I can only imagine what thoughts are swirling around in Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. head these days. The Phils have won 12 of their last 13 and built a 6.5 game cushion in the NL East with no team in the division looking as if they can put up a fight.

The Phils lineup has been scorching hot, helped by the return of All-Star Raul Ibanez from the DL and the better late than never emergence of Jimmy Rollins, whom is hitting over .350 in July.

Despite sub par efforts from staff ace Cole Hamels, the rest of the staff is shaking off first half rust. Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton and J.A Happ have carried the club through Hamels’ rocky stretch and given the bullpen some much deserved rest.

Although there is much baseball to be played, it appears that the Phils will easily win the division and possibly compete with the Dodgers for the best record in the NL.

All of which makes you wonder…Is Amaro thinking that Roy Halladay is not worth it?

Does he believe that the Phils are shoe-ins for the postseason and will just let the chips fall where they may?

After all, anything can happen in the playoffs. Just get yourself there.

Rueben, this team cannot win the World Series as is. They possibly could come out of the NL, but they cannot beat the Boston Red Sox in a seveb-game series.

Sure, the Red Sox aren’t just given a spot in the Fall Classic, they have to earn it just like everyone else. You just have to assume the best team is going to be there come October.

Acquiring Roy Halladay will not only make the Phillies the favorites in the NL this year. It will give them the chance to become a dynasty.

With the Phils core in their prime (Rollins, Utley, Howard, Victorino, Werth, Madson, Romero, Lidge) and Ibanez playing All-Star caliber ball, now is the time to accomplish something special.

To have this team mentioned in the same breath as teams of legend. The Big Red Machine and countless Yankees squads come to mind.

Throwing Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Moyer/Happ in a seven-game series is pretty hard to beat, especially with the potency of their offense.

Do we need Roy Halladay? Yes. It’s not as desperate a situation as it was in June, but it would become a necessity come September and October.

The next looming question is what to give up for the best pitcher in the game today. I am weary of losing Happ because of how well he has pitched (7-0, 2.68 ERA). The Blue Jays would be foolish not to request him be part of a deal.

In my eyes you have three prized pieces. Pitchers Happ and Kyle Drabek and OF Michael Taylor. It would be ideal to not lose all three. 

There are plenty of other prospects (Carrasco, Marston, Donald) to throw in in order to keep 1 of their top three prospects.

If the Jays insist on all three top prospects then Rueben has some hard decisions to make. Possibly a move for a dark horse pitcher we don’t know about? Maybe he is more willing than I to lose their top three?

I’m glad I’m not in Ruben’s shoes. His decision will have an immediate impact, not only for this year but the foreseeable future of this special club as well.

Whatever your decision is Ruben, just remember one word…”dynasty”.