Does Roy Halladay Have Anything Left for 2013 and Beyond?

Roy Halladay was once the best pitcher in baseball.

Over the past two years, Halladay is 13-12 with a 5.24 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 32 starts. For those who remember Halladay when he was at his best, it’s disappointing to see those numbers.

Halladay has been out since mid-May after shoulder surgery and is looking like he’s ready to return.

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports Halladay will make a minor league rehab start Thursday for the Phillies’ Gulf Coast League team with another rehab start coming five days later if all goes well.

Some may ask why the Phillies would bring Halladay back since they’re all but out of the playoff race. The reason is that both parties involved, Halladay and the Phillies, need to know whether the righthander has anything left in the tank.

 

Inside the Numbers

When looking at Halladay, it’s important to look at his pre-injury numbers.

When you break it down by velocity, the only pitch that has had relatively no change since the 2011 season was his curveball. With the other three pitches, he lost more than two mph on his sinker and cutter, and 1.66 mph on his splitter.

We don’t know for sure if Halladay’s injured shoulder was the cause of the drop in his velocity, but if he has indeed fixed whatever ailed the joint, then his return should definitely give us an indication if his lack of arm strength is a long term issue or the product of an injury that needed to be addressed.

 

Free Agent after the Year

More than anything, Halladay wants to get back on the field because he is a free agent after this season.

The Phillies likely want to see if he has anything left. If he does, there will be an interest in re-signing him.

However, even if that doesn’t happen, Halladay is playing for his career.

Just as some September call-ups will audition for 2014 jobs, Halladay will be auditioning for a job as well, whether it’s with the Phillies or some other team.

At 36, Halladay doesn’t have too many years left in him. He’ll be able to prove he can still be effective at the MLB level, thereby allowing him to go out on his own term.

Regardless of how he performs, he won’t get $20 million a season again.

 

Predictions

Halladay will see the field this year, making a few starts in September for the Phillies.

However, with guys like Ethan Martin and Jesse Biddle ready to make a difference at the MLB level, I don’t see the Phillies bringing him back next.

Where Halladay could make the biggest difference is in a rotation that is chock-full of youngsters. Whether it’s a team like the Baltimore Orioles or the Oakland Athletics, Halladay will still be able to help a team in 2014.

But will it be more from a leadership standpoint or because of his performance on the field?

That’s the question he’ll begin to answer when he makes it back to the big leagues this year.

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Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Making Big Mistake Not Blowing up Roster

The pain of 2013 doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon for the Philadelphia Phillies.

With overpriced and often injured veterans throughout the roster, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has said he will not be blowing up the roster, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.

People think we’re going to blow up this team. We’re never going to be in the position of blowing up. There’s no blowing up. There might come a time when we make changes to improve for the future, but we don’t have a reason to blow it up. Boston didn’t blow it up last year. They retooled. That’s the challenge we have whether it’s July 31 or November 1.

While the word choice may be different, one has to wonder if Amaro Jr. is making a huge mistake by not trading away some of his higher-priced veterans. Is it worth keeping guys like Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Chase Utley and Jonathan Papelbon?

Before we delve into those players, let’s look at the players who should stay and the minor league prospects who might contribute in the near future.

 

Continue the Youth Movement

It’s important to note the players who aren’t going anywhere. The Phillies can build their core with these young talents.

Starter Cole Hamels is as close to untouchable as there is on Philadelphia’s roster. While he has struggled this year, the Phillies signed him to a six-year, $144 million contract last year. It’s safe to say he’s going nowhere.

Then there’s Domonic Brown, who has been on an absolute tear this year. He’s batting .289 with 19 home runs and 47 RBI. Many gave up on him as a former top prospect, but he’s finally coming through.

Jonathan Pettibone and Ben Revere also can be considered part of the young core and will get better with time. Neither is likely to go anywhere, either.

 

Rebuild with Minor Leaguers

When the Phillies consider trading players, they must also look at their potential replacements in the minor leagues.

LHP Jesse Biddle ranks as the No. 55 prospect in baseball, while RHP Ethan Martin ranks No. 72, according to MLB.com. Both are expected to be in the rotation next year.

Three Class-A players—catcher Tommy Joseph, shortstop Roman Quinn and OF/1B Larry Greene—are still a few years away but should contribute when they do reach the big leagues.

Others like third basemen Cody Asche and Maikel Franco could also make an impact in the near future.

 

Trade Overpriced Players

Now that we know what the Phillies do have, let’s look at their assets in the big leagues.

Cliff Lee is the first name on anyone’s list of potential pieces to be traded away.

With the Phillies going nowhere this year, he could be moved for a few pieces that could bolster their minor league system.

He could also return a major league-ready outfielder, which is another area of concern for the Phillies. Unlike other positions, there’s no relief in sight from the minor leagues.

Then there’s Roy Halladay, who has struggled this year but could still do a lot for another team. A team like the Oakland Athletics (which could lose Bartolo Colon as a result of the Biogenesis scandal) could use his services.

Then there’s Jonathan Papelbon, who isn’t getting the same opportunities he’s accustomed to. He’s one of the highest-paid closers in the game ($13 million) and isn’t getting the opportunity to earn his keep.

What value does he bring to the Phillies, which are likely out of the playoff race?

Lastly, there is Utley, who is a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

His abilities at the plate at a normally weak position make him a valuable commodity on the trade market. Outside of Brandon Phillips, Ian Kinsler and Robinson Cano, there isn’t a more consistent hitter at second base than Utley. He will also be a free agent after this year.

Lee, Halladay, Papelbon and Utley are being paid a combined $73 million this year. Trading them could clear some serious cap room on the books to make a run at some free agents this offseason.

 

Bottom Line

The bottom line is the Phillies have a bunch of players that teams would be interested in, but they have to be willing to make the moves.

Right now, all they’re doing is playing sub-par baseball with the third highest payroll in MLB.

How is that fiscally smart?

Instead of retaining these players and watching them lead Philadelphia to a losing season, Amaro Jr. should swallow his pride and get to work at rebuilding the Phillies into a winning baseball team once again.

Right now, it’s a joke to see how much they’re paid and how bad they’re performing.

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Jimmy Rollins Trade Rumors: Latest Updates on Dodgers’ Interest & More

Jimmy Rollins is on the trading block.

Regardless of the fact that he’s been on the block for a couple of years now, it’s hard to imagine the only team Rollins has ever known trading him.

Still, it’s understandable that the Phillies will do what’s best for the Phillies, regardless of what player is in the conversation.

Just look at Cole Hamels.

This year, Rollins is hitting .262 with nine home runs, 34 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

He’s signed to a $33 million contract that runs through 2014, although there’s a vesting option for 2015.

So, where does he go, if he’s traded at all?

That’s where Bleacher Report and I come in.

No longer will you need to search out multiple sites to find the latest and greatest rumor. It will all be here.

So, here’s a look at the latest rumors on Rollins.

Note: This will be updated on a regular basis—often multiple times per day—so while the post date will always show as July 17, come back to see the latest rumors on where Rollins might go.

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Is It Too Early To Give Roy Halladay the NL Cy Young Award?

When you think of top pitchers in the game, names like C.C. Sabathia, Tim Lincecum, Zack Greinke, Felix Hernandez, and Johan Santana come up.

Nowhere in the discussion does Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay come up…except with Phillies fans.

However, after what we’ve seen from Halladay in the first four games of the 2010 season, is it too early to give him the NL Cy Young Award?

Philadelphia fans would be happy for Major League Baseball to go ahead and do this, while others would be hesitant, especially San Francisco Giants and New York Mets fans.

The first reason is simply looking at Halladay’s statistics through the first four games of the season. Sure, you can’t expect him to keep up this pace through the rest of the season, but his numbers simply speak for themselves over the course of his career.

This year, he has a 4-0 record, has recorded 28 strikeouts, walked three batters, and given up three earned runs, and has a measly 0.82 ERA.

Now, there are those who will say, “The Phillies haven’t played anyone to start the season.”

Actually, they have. The only team Halladay has pitched against that doesn’t have a winning record is the Houston Astros. Florida, Atlanta, and yes, even Washington all are above .500.

The second reason why Halladay should just go ahead and be named the NL Cy Young is the video evidence. Just look at the way he carries himself during every pitch. Whether he’s down 3-0 in the count or is up 0-2, Halladay always feels like he can get the out. There’s no nervousness or stress coming from the mound. He goes out there and simply does what he’s done for the last 12 years.

The final reason to go ahead and give Halladay the award is because the Phillies have, without a doubt, the best offense in the National League. That alone will allow Halladay to be successful on the mound.

Each night out, the Phillies will give their ace a chance to pitch with a lead. When you give an ace like Halladay a lead with which to pitch, he’s going to be very hard to beat.

Now, will Halladay be named the Cy Young winner at the end of the year?

Only time will tell.

But if the season continues to go the way it has, then you could likely see the first 25-game winner since Bob Welch did it in 1990. That alone should win Halladay the NL Cy Young award, if nothing else.

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