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SOMETHING

The State of the MLB: A Trading Deadline Mega-Review

The main thing that stands out about the 2009 trading deadline is the lack of financial flexibility for most clubs. Teams are nervous about taking on a large contract and ruining their future ability to make moves.

Keeping that in mind Roy Halladay has been the focal point of the 2009 trade deadline. He is locked into a contract through next season but after that he could be a big money free agent. Not quite CC Sabathia big, because Halladay will be going on 34-years old after the 2010 season, but he will still command a hefty payload.

That is perhaps keeping teams at an arms length because they are only guaranteed to have him for the next two stretch runs (I’ll come back to that in a bit). Organizations know have to balance whether or not the loss of future talent is worth risking for Halladay’s arm through next October.

We need to also keep in mind that October is not a guarantee. Jayson Stark from ESPN detailed five myths about the trading deadline and this was one of his points and I agree with him 100 percent.

The Doc, no matter how dominant he is, doesn’t ensure a team making the postseason. Sabathia and Manny Ramirez did it last year but we must not forget the other times where the big deal hasn’t quite paid off.

The Jays are asking, and rightfully so, for a lot in return. They mainly want Major League talent, along with top prospects, in exchange for the Doc. Toronto Blue Jays GM JP Ricciardi says that, “I think at this point, it’s probably unlikely that we’ll trade Doc.”

Whether Ricciardi is just trying to bait potential suitors into bolstering their offers or actually feels that the trade is unlikely to occur, I still think that Halladay will be moved during this next week. He told the Jays that he will become a free agent after 2010 and to get maximum value they must move him now.

The problem they face is that once the deadline passes on Jul. 31 his value will decrease dramatically. At that point he could still be traded but he would have to clear waivers before any transaction occurred, and there are a handful of teams who would claim him if that situation unfolded.

Basically, a Halladay deal needs to be done within the next eight days or things are not going to be easy for the Jays. They will lose value in the deal if they hold on to him into the offseason.

He has a much higher value now because a team can get him for the pennant chase this year and next year before needing to re-sign him. If they Jays wait until the offseason, they lose this year’s pennant chase as leverage in a trade.

But we will get back to him later. First, here is my up-to-date list with the status of every team and their positioning in the trading market.

 

Buyers

Angels, Astros, Brewers, Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins, Yankees

 

Sellers

Athletics, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Indians, Nationals, Orioles, Padres, Pirates, Royals

 

Undecided

Braves, Cubs, Mariners, Marlins, Mets, Rangers, Rays, White Sox

 

Now that we know what direction teams are looking to go, let’s breakdown the overall rumor mill division-by-division to best understand the situations surrounding the fast-approaching trading deadline.

 

AL West

Coming off a 101-loss season, the Seattle Mariners have quietly hung around in the AL West and sit just 5.5 games behind the division leading Los Angeles Angels.

With the pitching staff the M’s have, Don Wakamatsu’s team could be a dangerous bunch down the stretch run but they are still unsure if they can hang around if they can add a bat to their pedestrian offense.

Look for them to find a shortstop or utility IF/OF that can make an immediate impact on the field. Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez have been rumored to be the focus of the Mariners, but both players have been struggling in the month of the July and I’m not so sure they provide the Mariners with the gap power they are in need of.

A better option would be Orlando Cabrera of the Oakland Athletics. Cabrera has been rumored to be on the market and the Mariners could plug him in everyday at shortstop right away. Ronny Cedeno cannot be relied upon if the Mariners are serious about the postseason.

The A’s and Mariner have worked together recently, as Jack Hannahan moved to the M’s just weeks ago.

But Hannahan clearly is not the solution they were looking for as he has seen his average fall below the Mendoza line to .191 with a pitiful .281 OBP. The next seven days will dictate whether the Mariners pursue another bat through a trade or decide to unload one of their talented pitchers to set the stage for next season.

Those resilient Los Angeles Angels have surged after the tragic beginning to their season with the loss of Nick Adenhart. Somehow the team has managed to piece together a makeshift pitching staff and take control of the AL West.

They are still lingering in the Halladay discussion because their team ERA ranks 27th (4.71) and they have some decent pieces to offer in exchange. Eric Aybar, Howie Kendrick, and Mike Napoli are all possible players that could be moved but the Halos will have to offer more talent to win the sweepstakes for the coveted pitcher.

That pitcher might be Cliff Lee. The Indians are playing atrocious baseball although he is seen as high-priced, if Arte Moreno can put the right deal on the table they could pickup the ’07 Cy Young winner as an important piece for the stretch run.

The Texas Rangers are only 2.5 games back of Boston for the Wild Card and they could use help anywhere to gain some ground. It would be in their best interest to get an arm like Lee, but they just don’t have the payroll to add that sort of talent. It could spell their demise as the summer months wear on.

They could dangle prospects Justin Smoak or Derek Holland in a potential deal for Cliff Lee but they really don’t want to depart with those pieces. Now that Vincente Padilla has the Swine Flu (no, seriously, he does), they might be more inclined to check out the market.

 

AL Central

The Cleveland Indians are now soliciting offers for catcher Victor Martinez and the switch-hitting signal caller is batting .289 with 14 home runs and 62 RBI. Martinez would be an extraordinary addition to the lineup but it doesn’t seem like the deal will be made between the teams.

Both the Red Sox and Rays have spoken with Cleveland about Martinez. It appears Clay Buchholz would have to be included in a deal for the Sox to get him.

The Minnesota Twins need to find a third-baseman after Joe Crede has under-performed and is facing an uncertain future with shoulder issues. He recently underwent an MRI and results are expected back soon.

They are supposedly checking out Cabrera in Oakland as a possible option. If Crede is healthy, despite his poor bat as of late, his defense is outstanding and a left side of he and Cabrera would be dominant.

The Chicago White Sox seem to be content with the roster they have to make a run at the central. They are tied for the lead with the Detroit Tigers and with Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon due back soon and Carlos Quentin has returned to aid their attempt at defending their division title.

The Tigers finally got back Carlos Guillen, who has been out since May 5 with a shoulder injury.

Expect the Central to be perhaps the most exciting race to the finish with the Tigers, White Sox, and Twins all bunched at the top.

 

AL East

The Tampa Bay Rays have been rumored to be in pursuit of Cliff Lee, but ESPN’s Buster Olney has reported that they are actively shopping Scott Kazmir. He speculates that moving Kazmir to the Angels could be one part of a larger three-way deal.

They are appearing more and more interested in make some deals as they draw closer to falling Red Sox in the Wild Card.

The Boston Red Sox finally ended a five-game skid and have already been active on the trade market. They acquired Adam LaRoche (1B) earlier this week and are still looking for another stick to insert in the order.

The Sox also traded their terrible infielder Julio Lugo for Chris Duncan of the St. Louis Cardinals. All I have to say about this move is that it was a complete waste of paperwork.

For once, the New York Yankees have been silent thus far in the unpredictable market. Hal Steinbrenner seems more interested in waiting until the offseason to offer exorbitant amounts of money to free agents because the Yanks can outbid any team in the league.

Their recent winning ways have pushed them in 2.5 games in front of the wavering BoSox and I would be inclined to think that if they make a move on someone it would be a player who hits the waiver wire after Jul. 31 passes.

They need to shore up the gaping hole that Chien-Ming Wang dug in their rotation and they could get a better bargain once the deadline passes.

 

NL West

The Los Angeles Dodgers could also use an arm. They will most likely be looking for a reliever although don’t count them out of the Halladay sweepstakes quite yet. They lack a high-level minors pitcher in exchange and have been outspoken to the fact that Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley are untouchable.

Assistant GM Logan White has been in Toronto for the past two series and ESPN’s Peter Gammons reports that the Dodgers also have an interest in reliever Jason Frasor.

George Sherrill, the lefty reliever for the Baltimore Orioles, has also drawn attention from Dodgers scouts at recent games. They also took a look at David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes, and Francisco Cordero when they were in town the past weekend with the Cincinnati Reds.

I wouldn’t suspect any of the Reds players to become Dodgers, but don’t be surprised if Sherrill moves across the country to help the Boys in Blue for the stretch run to keep distance from the second place Rockies.

Speaking of the Wild Card leading Colorado Rockies, they traded for relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt in exchange for minor leaguer Connor Graham. Having just pulled ahead of the slumping San Francisco Giants the Rockies are turning things into high gear in hopes of capturing a playoff berth.

Manny Corpas was the Rox setup man for a period of time but he will undergo elbow surgery on Friday. He has been on the DL since Jun. 20 and has struggled mightily this season (1-3, 5.88 ERA).

Speaking of the Giants, has anyone seen their bats lately? These guys score less than the 40-year old virgin. They rank 27th in the Majors in runs scored and the Bay Area fans would be severely let down if they don’t add an offensive piece to make a run at the postseason.

It would be a shame if the organization let a team with outstanding young pitchers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain slip into mediocrity because they couldn’t find someone get on base or drive in runs. Maybe taking a chance on oft-injured Nick Johnson (.305/6/40) would be beneficial and give them a quality left-handed bat to rely on in the middle of the lineup.

While Travis Ishikawa is a defensive gem, his lack of production at the plate is really dragging the team down. He has picked up the slack lately and made some things happen but he is not a reliable player to count on in the clutch (.179 in late and close situations).

Pablo Sandoval can only do such much but he can’t carry this team on his back alone.

The San Diego Padres may be willing to part ways with closer Heath Bell, who has saved 24 of the Friars 38 wins.

With Holliday off the market, don’t forget about Adrian Gonzalez on the San Diego Padres, either. His average has slid to .248 but he still has 25 home runs and 54 RBI.

The low RBI total can be contributed that he plays for the worst offense in baseball and there are rarely runners on base for him. A team like the Mariners could really use his bat in the AL.

 

NL Central

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded for Matt Holliday, the right-handed slugger. They are desperately in need of some support for Albert Pujols and Holliday could provide at least some protection for the potential Triple Crown winner.

After being shipped from Colorado to Oakland in the offseason, Holliday’s offensive production has fallen off (.287/11/54) since ’07 (.340/36/137). I still think Holliday will be a positive gain for the Cards. He has turned it around and is hitting .344 in July and went 4-for5 on Monday with two home runs and six RBI.

Don’t let his powerful physique fool you—he has swiped 12 bases this season and possesses good instincts on the base paths. Holliday will be a free agent after the season so it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals hold onto him into next year.

Gonzalez didn’t have a home run in the month of July before going deep against the Florida Marlins on Jul. 20, and the power-hitting lefty hit just four in the month of June after his torrid start.

Despite hitting just .184 this month, if someone pulls the trigger and makes a move for Adrian I would expect him to be a positive contributor and find a rhythm wherever he may wind up.

And how about them Cubbies? The Chicago Cubs suddenly sit just 1.5 games behind St. Louis in the Central.

The Cardinals are dueling with the Phillies over the weekend and welcome Major League-leading Los Angeles to town on Monday while Chicago takes on the falling-off Cincinnati Reds and then the Houston Astros next week. By this time next week, we could be talking about a Cubs team that leads the division.

The Cubs are another team limited by their finances and that could hurt them in the sweepstakes for the Orioles Sherrill. They could use a good bat with some run production and there’s a pretty bad team hoarding one of those on the Eastern seaboard.

The Washington Nationals have Adam Dunn who is in hot pursuit of what would be the greatest accomplishment in baseball history: hitting more home runs than games your team wins (24 HR/28 wins).

The Astros will have to decide if they recent injury to Lance Berkman will prevent them from continuing their annual second-half surge before they go out and make a transaction.

The Milwaukee Brewers are treading water but they have Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar to offer for an arm. They have to jump the Cards, Cubs, and Astros and after what happened with C.C. last season I think they need to pull the trigger for either Cliff Lee or Halladay if they can find a way to make it happen. If the Mariners decide to be sellers, they could also snag Erik Bedard in an 11th hour deal.

 

NL East

If Roy Halladay does get moved, expect him to be the newest member of the Philadelphia Phillies, as they can offer Kyle Drabek, a top of the line-pitching prospect that is projected to be a No. 1 starter in the near future. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that Blue Jays scouts attended Drabek’s start in Double-A on Wednesday night.

The Phillies need to bolster their staff because once you get past Cole Hamels and JA Happ there really isn’t much to fear. Pedro Martinez just won’t cut it and the Phils are in need of a boost to make them confident about defending their World Series title.

The defending champs have won nine of the last 10 although the problem is that in return for Halladay, the Jays are reportedly asking for Drabek, Happ, and OF Dominic Brown. Happ is 7-1 with a 2.97 ERA this season.

The Phils have turned down that trade offer but I wouldn’t expect them to just walk away; look for some negotiating to continue into the week and until the deadline hits. 

The Atlanta Braves are playing better as of late and have moved within 5.5 games of the Phils but they don’t appear to have the chips to trade for a much-needed hitter. 

The recent swap with the New York Mets where they got Ryan Church in exchange for Jeff Francouer was a head scratcher for anyone who expects them to stay in the hunt. I think Atlanta is looking for help on the offensive side but Turner Field is so big any hitter would dread playing home games there.

 

PJ Ross is a Featured Columnist for the Los Angeles Dodgers

Check out the video feed of the trading deadline 

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Roy Halladay Would Cure Phils’ Pitching Woes

Forget mortgaging the future, the future is now for the Philadelphia Phillies.

The delicate dance that is being performed by every media expert known to man is wearing thin.  To trade young pitching prospect Kyle Drabek or not seems to be on par with all of the eternal questions asked throughout the ages. 

One thing is lost in the shuffle in this anointing of Drabek as the second coming of Cy Young is that he is young and unpolished.

Sure, Drabek is intriguing as to how his talent and skills will progress in the next two or three years. 

However, if the opportunity exists to add an established top of the rotation pitcher such as Roy Halladay, even if it is for the next year and a half, an organization would be crazy to pass up the chance to be a legitimate World Series contender for the next two seasons.

For the Phillies, now is a better time than ever to take that chance.  With the core group of players that this club possesses, the championship window is wide open. 

Would a Kyle Drabek be a great addition to this club in the future?  Possibly so.  However, consider a scenario of a rotation void of the addition of Halladay that falls short of repeating as world champions in 2009 and becomes the main fault for not returning to the postseason in 2010. 

Drabek, by all accounts, would not be a significant part of the major league club this season and more than likely for most if not all of 2010. 

Sacrificing an unknown future for a sure-fire one seems to be in many ways the safer bet.

Prospects come and go and the success rate on them is not exactly a favorable one.  Dealing Kyle Drabek could prove to be the wrong move, a stellar success, or a push. 

However, when a substantial talent like Roy Halladay can be added to help a club right now, the questioning of whether or not a prospect is worth sacrificing should not be such an agonizing contemplation.

Roy Halladay Would Come at a Cost

He’s one of the greats. He could be the missing link in a potential-filled Phillies team. He could be the key to winning another World Series. But, just like any great commodity, he comes at a cost.

As rumors continue swirling regarding Roy Halladay, the Cy Young award winning ace, coming to Philadelphia, excitement continues to build. But, might that excitement be a bit premature?

The Blue Jays aren’t going to give him away.

According to the most recent reports, sources are saying that Halladay will cost the Phillies J.A. Happ, Kyle Drabek, and Dominic Brown. Now it’s up to the Phillies to take the deal or counter.

Manager Charlie Manuel addressed the situation today, when reporters asked him if Halladay was worth the Jay’s asking price.

“I like Drabek and the basic reason I say that is, when I look at him, the style of pitcher that he is, I look at his upside. I look at his tools. I look at the kind of pitcher he is—I call him a drop and drive pitcher—and I think he’s on the order of Nolan Ryan or Tom Seaver or Colon, guys like that with a real strong core, strong legs, get a big push off the rubber to produce power. It’s a style that usually makes for a long career. That’s what I see.”

Aside from Drabek, Happ would also be a significant loss to the Phils rotation. He’s been the steadiest of the Phils starters with a 7-1 record, trumping ace Cole Hamels (6-5) and every other Phils starter.

Bottom line is, you can’t ask much more from a pitcher than what Happ is giving you now. Halladay says he doesn’t want to sign an extension so he’s only good for a year-and-a-half. Happ is showing potential to be great for a long time.

Why trade the farm to get a pitcher who may only be a tad better than the one you’re giving up?

The Phils have what it takes now to be a powerhouse for a long time. But don’t take that for granted. You go trading away the farm now and the window to win narrows. That’s all Halladay does for you- give you a chance to win in a narrow window.

Why not open that window wider by keeping what you have. Maybe pick up a number three or some bullpen help.

There’s an unnecessary sense of urgency for Halladay. He’s an exciting player, but think about the cost.

Roy Halladay Getting Closer To Being Traded To Phillies

This was from FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal:

“The Blue Jays and Phillies have made progress toward a deal that would send ace Roy Halladay to Philadelphia, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

Halladay has a no-trade clause, but sources said he would approve a trade to the defending World Series champions.

In conversations between the Phillies and Blue Jays, the sources said, Philadelphia officials have indicated a willingness to include one or more of their best prospects in the deal. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro hasn’t ruled out any player in the talks, raising the possibility that right-hander Kyle Drabek might ultimately be included.

A deal is not imminent, as evidenced by the fact that Halladay made his start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, as scheduled. But there were strong indications Friday that Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi is talking more seriously with Philadelphia than any other team. Ricciardi declined comment when approached by reporters Friday afternoon.

The Dodgers and Rangers, who both have spoken with the Blue Jays about Halladay, didn’t have any contact with Ricciardi on Friday. The Yankees initially expressed interest, but Ricciardi has yet to engage them in talks.

One source did indicate that the Angels, who are very involved in the market for pitching, have improved their offer. But it’s doubtful that they could match a package from the Phillies if Amaro is willing to part with Drabek and at least one other premium player, such as left-hander J.A. Happ, or outfielders Dominic Brown or Michael Taylor.

There is a substantially smaller group of scouts in attendance for Halladay’s start Friday at Rogers Centre than were in Toronto on Sunday, when he pitched a complete game against Boston. Many scouts in town during the week—including those representing the Red Sox and Dodgers—have left.

The Phillies, though, still have a representative at the game. And by next week, they may have a new ace.”

If the Phillies are able to deal some of their top prospects to land Roy Halladay, that would change the power in the National League dramatically.

Adding Halladay to a staff with Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton and eventually Pedro Martinez, plus Brett Myers next season would only increase the Phillies chances of being a World Series contender for the next two seasons.

The Phillies have already shown they can overtake the Dodgers as they did so last season in the playoffs. If the Phillies beat out the Dodgers to get Halladay’s services, this would easily make the Phillies the odds on favorite in the 2009 playoffs for the National League.

It’s also looking like the Phillies are now more willing to part with some of their top prospects than they once were, which may turn out to be a positive, especially for a dominant ace like Halladay.

The only questions will be, will Halladay approve a trade to the Phillies? And will the Phillies want to sign Halladay to a long-term contract and keep him for the rest of his career?

If this is the first major trade for general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., then he has pulled off a blockbuster of a deal for the Phillies.

Philadelphia Phillies Need to Make a Deal For Roy Halladay

It has been repeatedly said by writers and announcers across the country in the past few weeks, and I will say it again…The Philadelphia Phillies need to rise to the occasion and trade for Roy Halladay.

I’m not saying it is going to happen, but for the Phillies to make a run in the playoffs and have a shot at another World Series Championship, they will need the big-man from Toronto.

I’m confused as to what is actually going on in Philadelphia regarding Halladay. I understand that trading J.A. Happ—who is having a wonderful season—may sound like a lot to swallow when coupled with a prospect or two.

However, with Halladay you get one of the best, if not the best starter in the league, for not just half a season but for all of next year as well.

If the Phillies can land Halladay, they will become the clear favorite to win the division and should be able to take down the Dodgers in a seven game series. One must remember that the Dodgers desperately lack pitching, and with Halladay the Phillies can easily outlast LA and make another legit shot at a title.

There is even a chance Philadelphia could win three titles in a row with Halladay, he is just that good.

I will say it again, no matter the price, Philadelphia need to go after Halladay and bring home another World Series title.

Philadelphia Phillies: Getting Roy Halladay Is a No-Brainer

The end of July is either one of the most exciting times, or the most nerve-racking. It just depends on who you are.

For players, it is a lot of stress.

Anyone could be traded anywhere at any time. Every text message or phone call received could be that dreaded news, or great news, depending on who you are and where you end up going.

No one wants to go from a contender to one of baseball’s teams in the dumpster.

At the same time, going from the dumpster to one of the contending teams would be ideal to any player.

For fans, the end of July means the time for blockbuster trades. The time where getting that player you’ve always dreamed of playing for your team could finally come true.

Anything could happen before the calender flips to August.

Take Roy Halladay as an example.

At least four teams are highly interested in the 2003 Cy Young Award winner. As Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi adequately puts it, “someone has to have the stomach for this.”

The question is, who will it be?

In Philadelphia newspapers, there’s quite a bit of speculation that the Phillies are the front-runners for the ace. As they should be!

The Dodger’s have been reported as one of the teams in the chase, but the question is do they have the minor league talent to land him?

The Yankees and the Red Sox certainly have the talent to trade for any player they want. Then again, with the payrolls they sport, can they afford to trade away the prospects that in a few years could be performing well at the major league level at a much-reduced cost?

I don’t think they really want to do that, even for a phenomenal pitcher such as Doc Halladay.

Now the Phillies on the other hand…

The World Series Champions have quite a bit of minor league talent as well as some young players performing better than expected at the major league level.

J.A. Happ for example, has a 7-0 record this season with a 2.68 era. Obviously to get Halladay a player with Happ’s numbers would have to be included.

Should the Phillies let him go?

Absolutely. His performance is at it’s peak, the question is how long can he maintain the level he is performing at. That’s the roll of the dice Phillies GM Rubin Amaro Jr. has to make with trading Happ.

For a proven performer such as Halladay, that one really is a no-brainer.

Another player needed to make this deal happen is Kyle Drabek, son of former Pirates Cy Young winner Doug Drabek. The kid was born to pitch and trading him is probably more of a splinter in the mind’s eye for Rubin Amaro Jr. than Happ. Especially after watching Drabek pitch eight innings last night in a win for the Double-A Reading Phillies.

If the Phillies want to make a serious run at a second consecutive world title, they have to get more pitching.

That is the bottom line.

The bullpen has been good but hurt all season, more than likely do to their overuse because of the lack of consistency in the starting rotation.

Get Roy Halladay, he eats innings, he’s a proven performer, he’s the jelly the Phillies rotation has been missing since Brett Myers went down.

Cole Hamels is the peanut butter.

Hopefully Myers returns from the DL in late August to give the bullpen a fresh arm for the stretch.

Pedro Martinez also could be a nice addition, but I wouldn’t rest my championship aspirations on him.

If the Phillies can get Roy Halladay they give themselves their best chance at getting a second consecutive World Series title.

Go get him Rubin, it’s seriously a no-brainer.

Chan Ho Parks Nicely In Phillies Bullpen

Following a 10-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs to snap a 10-game winning streak on Wednesday night, the Phillies were comfortably ahead in the eighth inning with a 9-3 lead on the San Diego Padres in a one-game series Thursday.

Chris Carpenter, up from Triple-A due to Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero being put on injured reserve, gave up a run to close the Phils lead to 9-4 with one out and men on first and second.

No problem. Enter Chan Ho Park into the game.

One pitch, two outs. Park got Kevin Kousmanoff to ground into a 5-4-5 inning-ending double play. Park finished off the Padres 1-2-3 in the ninth to win the game.

Park has a 3-2 record with a 5.20 earned run average going into Thursday’s game, but much of his ERA can be attributed to his time as a starter to begin the season.

In his last 16 games, Park has a 1.82 ERA. He has become the stalwart of the bullpen, putting in three scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 4-1 13-inning win against the Cubs.

Park, whose agent asked the Phillies to give him a chance to start as a prospective free agent, is settling into his role. An important role.

Park seems looser, whether trying to kick save a foul ball or shamelessly wearing a “Vote for Shane” sandwich board to support the Flyin’ Hawaiin’s march to the All-Star game.

Clay Condrey was key in the early season Phillies bullpen, while post All-Star break, Park is the best of the bullpen.

The Phillies bullpen was a big part of their recent 10-game winning streak, giving up 15 earned runs in just over 50 innings.

It would have been a shame to waste Cole Hamels seven-inning, three-run confidence builder. 

It was gonna happen. Not tonight.

Thanks to Chan Ho.

Park? Oh, his 1 2/3 scoreless streak lowered his ERA to 5.07.

Just as last season, if the Phillies are to repeat as World Series champions, there has to be different, unsung heroes.

Like Chan Ho Park.

Why the Phillies Need to Trade for Roy Halladay

So it appears that Buster Olney of ESPN has his thoughts on why the Philadelphia Phillies need to attain Toronto Blue Jay ace pitcher Roy Halladay, effectively trying to steal my thunder. 

Thankfully, while his opinions are solid, they do not quite emulate mine and make my case even better! As head coaching “great” Herm Edwards once stated, “You play to win the game!” or in this case, the World Series. How would Halladay help the Phillies?  Well…

These days, no one in baseball without excellent starting pitching. The Phillies have a great defense and awesome offense, a good bullpen, and a closer in Brad Lidge who is finding his groove again. 

What they don’t have is the starting pitching needed to win in the playoffs. The winning streak the Phillies have been on in July has been great, but winning in the playoffs is different.

You need two bonafide starters to win four game for you over a seven-game series. Last year the Phils had Cole Hamels and Brett Myers, with assistance from Joe Blanton. This year, the Halladay-Hamels duo would make the Phillies one of the favorites to win it all.

Second, the addition of Halladay would add an edge to a sometimes aloof Philadelphia squad. Manager Charlie Manuel is already warning against complacency as the Phillies have built upon their NL East lead. Halladay, along with second baseman Chase Utley, would help the Phillies with a “bring it every night” mentality. 

The signing of Raul Ibanez to replace infamously low-key Pat Burrell started the transition; Halladay would cement it in place. The Phillies never give up until the final out; adding a “step on their throats” killer edge would make them dangerous indeed.

Finally, a Halladay trade would energize the city of Philadelphia to epic proportions and signal MLB that the Philllies have put aside their somewhat timid approach and are ready to establish themselves as a contender for years to come. Philly has always been overshadowed by the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox: teams who stop at nothing to bring titles to their respective cities. 

It’s time for the Phillies to do the same. The nucleus of the team is built to win now and will be that way for another three to five years. With much of their young minor league talent blocked by All-Stars on the big club, the Phillies can afford to move prospects for a shot at another ring.  

Gengereral Mnana Ruben Amaro needs to decide. The time is now and make his mark with this team. Roy Halladay in Philly Red would take him a long way towards doing so.

Roy Halladay: History Says the Risk Is Worth the Reward

In order for a team (the Phillies) to land Roy Halladay, Toronto is going to need that team to blow them away with an offer. The Blue Jays want the Phils’ top prospects.

Is the risk of those players being good worth the reward? Recent blockbuster trade history says yes.

My rules are simple. The trade has to be recent but not too recent, which rules out a C.C. Sabathia trade and a Johan Santana trade.

Here are the three trades I picked.

 

Josh Beckett (Nov 2005)

Marlins send Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Red Sox

Red Sox send Hanley Ramirez along with pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado.

What did the team do?

Finished third in the AL East in 2006, but won the World Series the next year.

Where are the prospects now?

Hanley Ramirez—All-Star shortstop.

Anibal Sanchez—threw a no-hitter in 2007, but has had injury problems ever since.

Jesus Delgado—in minors with Seattle.

Side Note: The Marlins originally had targeted left-hander Jon Lester, but Boston balked at including him in the trade, so the Red Sox agreed to add a second minor leaguer if Florida took Sanchez instead.

 

Bartolo Colon (July 2002)

Indians trade Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew to Montreal Expos

Expos give Indians prospects Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips, and major leaguer Lee Stevens.

What did the team do that year?

Expos Missed playoffs

Where are the prospects now?

Cliff Lee—2008 AL Cy Young award winner.

Brandon Phillips—starting second basemen for the Reds.

Grady Sizemore—Gold Glove-winning outfielder with the Indians.

 

Curt Schilling (July 2000)

Philadelphia Phillies trade Curt Schilling to Arizona Diamondbacks

Phillies get: Omar Daal, Nelson Figueroa, Travis Lee, and Vicente Padilla.

What did the team do that year?

Finished third in NL West but won World Series the next year.

What did the prospects do?

Omar Daal—Sucked.

Travis Lee—Really sucked.

Nelson Figueroa—Sucked.

Vicente Padillia—Won 14 games in 2002 and 2003 with the Phillies; was later on traded to the Texas Rangers.

 

The Expos sold the farm and got burnt badly, but hey, it’s the Expos! The other two won the World Series within two years. The Red Sox gave up Hanley Ramirez who turned into a stud, but the Sox won the World Series and remain in contention to this day.

To win a World Series it’s going to take a risk. Fans respect a team that risks it.

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