I hate to burst the bubble on the frenzy that has built up over the last few days, but Roy Halladay is not going to be traded to the Yankees. I have a few reasons for this belief, but the strongest one is that the Yankees are unlikely to pay the premium that it will take to get Halladay to a team within their division. As I have stated before, I would not consider Joba Chamberlain or Jesus Montero in any move, and would only include Phil Hughes or Robinson Cano if the rest of the deal was properly watered down. While Halladay is without a doubt the best pitcher in baseball, he is also 32 years old and a free agent in 1.5 seasons. Joel Sherman spoke to
JP Piccardi, and got this important bit of information:
Ricciardi said he would not allow a team a 24-72-hour window to negotiate a contract extension. He said this trade would be only for what remains on Halladay’s contract, which runs through next year with a 2010 salary of $15.75 million.
This essentially makes Halladay less attractive than Johan Santana was. The Mets got a year of Johan, who was younger than Halladay is now, and they also had the chance to negotiate an extension with him prior to signing off on the trade. If Brian Cashman was unwilling to trade his top prospects then, I doubt he would move them within the division now. Finally, the price in prospects is certain to be high, with a deal headlined by Austin Jackson, Austin Romine, or Zach McCallister almost certainly too light on premium talent:
What kind of deal would it take to get Halladay: “Imagine you have a house worth $500,000 and weren’t really interested in selling it, but someone offered $1.2 million. That would make you at least listen. So if someone is that motivated we will listen.”
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Basically, for a trade to be made, Brian Cashman would need to change his stance on trading prospects for a pitcher that will require an extension within a year or so, and then trade said prospects within the division. It is inconceivable to think that he is going to trade the first ace type pitcher or middle of the order hitter that the Yankees have developed in a long time to a team that the Yankees would have to play 19 times a year. If Riccardi changed his stance and was willing to consider a Hughes, Jackson, and Betances type deal, I think a match could be made. Otherwise, this whole ruckus is just idle wishful thinking, and Yankee fans need to cross their fingers and hope that Boston does not decide to part with Clay Buchholz and Lars Anderson.
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9 Responses to Halladay To Yankees Is Not Going To Happen
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TIQ IQ
Agreed. it’s highly doubtful that the Yankees would make such a move (or that the Blue Jays would, for that matter). They’ll act like they’re in it though, if only to make the Red Sox part with a guy like Clay Buchholz or Lars Anderson. The Sox have a ton of money to spend and although they’re looking for a bat, there’s not much they can acquire—not yet anyway—so I could see them trying for pitching with Halladay.
To get him, Boston needs to give up both guys you mentioned- Anderson’s stock has dropped a bit. There is no way they get him without Buchholz in the deal.
Do you wonder if Riccardi would take less of a haul if he was able to dump Wells or Rios who are seen as a financial burden to this team?
The Sox have options. They have Bowden and Casey Kelley as well. It should be interesting.
I agree that a trade is unlikely. Some team (i.e. 08 Brewers) that feels they need to make a push always trades above value near the deadline. I think the Yanks and the Redsox won’t saddle themselves with the cost if they feel they are in a good situation to have a legitimate chance. At the moment both are good enough to win the WS without Halladay.
That said, I wonder if the following would make sense for both sides:
CM. Wang (almost replaces Halladay if he straightens out next year and returns to 19W per season form)
Z. McCallister (plus prospect)
A. Jackson (to replace Rios as a much cheaper alt.)
A. Romine (Good catching prospects are a value)
For
R. Halladay
A. Rios / V. Wells (if we took on this cost that they surely would want to dump perhaps that is an inticement?)
Two things- I dont think they want to dump RIos. If they put RIos in CF, where he can play and play well, he becomes worth his deal. If you took Wells, you might get a better deal, but Wang is not going to get you anything at this point- he is too much of a gamble for the Jays to take.
I guess I’m one of the few who still believes Wang is going to win a lot of games in the future. Perhaps you’re right that other GMs might not be willing to risk it.
I’ve heard Kay talk about how the Jays don’t see Rios not living up to the contract. I think he’ll be making over 12mil for a couple of years batting in bottom of the order I wouldn’t call his contract good for a team like Toronto especially if you could trade out his spot for a cost controlled A-Jax.
… anyways I doubt he stays in the AL East so its all moot.
I think Wang still have a very bright future, no worries. Other GM’s may not think so, which is fine with me if that means we get to keep him around.
I don’t know, ESPN is reporting in its Rumor Central this morning that the Yankees are the only fit for Halladay, so something might be brewing behind the scenes.