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.