Via MLBTR comes this piece from Jeremy Sandler of the National Post. In it, Sandler brings us a few tidbits regarding the Blue Jays’ asking price for their 32-year old ace, Roy Halladay. While most of what Sandler has to say isn’t at all surprising—for instance, stating that Toronto desires “young, salary-controlled players” in exchange for Halladay is like saying the sky is blue—one of his assertions is particularly notable in that it details what the Jays want from a trading partner, specifically.
According to Sandler, “[t]he Jays want a major league-ready arm and bat, both young and affordable enough to stay in Toronto a while, plus prospects for Halladay.” Sandler admits that a package of a “major league-ready arm and bat… plus prospects” for a player with only one year left on his contract is a “high price” for any team to pay. The human cost outlined here becomes even more substantial if an extension is also involved. Now, I could see certain teams parting with one or the other, a major league-ready arm or a major league-ready bat, while offering high-end prospects, but I doubt the Jays will get exactly what they want (an arm and a bat, plus prospects), despite Sandler’s claim that “[i]ndustry insiders suggest serious offers in the coming weeks should match Toronto’s wish list.” The Jays’ asking price just seems exorbitant, though you can’t fault them for trying (I’m sure the Twins asked for the same thing when trading Johan Santana).
With regards to the Yankees, I don’t think they could afford Halladay if Sandler is correct (which makes me wonder if he actually is, since most contending teams in need of a pitcher like Halladay won’t be able to meet Toronto’s criteria). Brian Cashman certainly has major league-ready arms to “spare,” with Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, though major league-ready bats seem few and far between unless you believe that Jesus Montero and Austin Jackson are at that stage. According to Jon Heyman (SI), the Jays are said to like Montero, so perhaps they would be willing to take on a package of Joba, Montero, and other prospects, as Montero’s bat is often considered a “sure thing” (i.e., close to major league-ready). Still, as talented as Roy Halladay is, that’s an expensive price to pay for one year of his services (and, if an extension is needed, then the combined cost of a trade and a multimillion dollar contract is enormous).
In my opinion, such a trade could actually create gaping new holes rather than fill those that already exist.
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8 Responses to A high price to pay
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TIQ IQ
The problem with Halladay is his age and that if we trade for him he would want a contract extension. At the age of 32 he is out of his prime and will from this point on decline in performance. What the Jays are asking for Halladay is a ridiculous amount, and the amount of money that the Yankees will have to invest in Halladay would be unnecessary given the point of his career. I would rather have the Red Sox give up prospects and money to attain Halladay since it would be far to expensive for the Yankees.
If the Yankees acquire a pitcher through the trade market, I would rather call the Florida Marlins and find out about Josh Johnson who will be 26 when the season starts and would be cost controlled for the next 2 years when he becomes a free agent in 2012. The Marlins have been reluctant to give their players a contract extension and have traded them before they began earning any real amount of money. At 6’7″ 230 pounds he has the body type of a work horse and has the repertoire to be a true ace on a staff for years. During the 2009 season his average fastball velocity was 3rd behind only Justin Verlander and Ulbaldo Jimenez. I do not think the Yankees should spend time on trying to acquire Roy Halladay, but spend it going an alternative route and try to acquire Josh Johnson. If the Yankees want to improve their team and acquire a picture Josh Johnson seems like the best option if the Marlins are willing to deal since it would seem he would cost less to get than Roy Halladay and has a better chance of having a better season than Doc.
Why would you want to give up Montero+ or Hughes and Joba+ in order to obtain a starter we don’t need in order to win a championship? That goes for both Johnson and Halladay…
Johnson is a cool thought but he has injury concerns and The Marlins history of trading shows they go for the big prospects in there trades and they don’t do Cliff Lee deals… The last major deal they did for a starting pitcher in his prime was Josh Beckett and that deal included trading Beckett for The Red Sox most assured position prospect and other smaller pitching prospects. The current equivalent in our system is Montero and pitching prospects and I don’t think that is an idea I want to explore when Montero has such a talented bat at such a young age and both Felix Hernandez and Johnson will both be free agents in 2012.
Austin Jackson can’t even be used in a Josh Johnson deal because they have Cameron Maybin ready to start next year so I’m not sure we have the abiltity to pull of that deal without including Montero.
I would rather the Yankees focus on trading for a number 3 starter who can be a number 4 starter behind Pettitte this year and then step into that number 3 spot the following year. Or just sign a starting pitcher like Ben Sheets to a 1 year deal or something, it’s just as effective and we don’t have to give up prospects.
The thing with Johnson is that he would cost less, than Halladay since he does not have the proven track record and has some injury concerns. My point is if the Yankees are going to acquire a pitcher through the trade market, why bother with Halladay when Johnson is the better choice.
Josh Beckett had an extra year of cost controlled and showed success in the 2003 postseason increasing his trade value when the time came in 2005. I don’t think that the Yankees would have to include Jesus Montero in the deal to get Josh Johnson. If you are going to trade for a pitcher with frontline stuff Josh Johnson should be the first considered.
I see no way you get away without trading Joba and Hugh+ or Montero+ and I would do neither because it’s not worth it.
Who else do you got to trade? Jackson can’t be involved because they have Maybin and Romine isn’t big enough yet to center a deal so it’s either both Joba and Hughes or Montero… Why would they want either Joba or Hughes when neither one right now has Josh Johnson stuff and both throw 91-93 MPH as starters and 93-96 MPH as relievers.
Halladay may have the better track record but Johnson is 26 and under contract for 2 more years while Halladay is 32 (33 in May) and is under contract for only 1 year so technically if you are purchasing the future and not buying what someone did in the past Johnson has more trade value. My point is if the Yankees are going to trade for a starting pitcher why bother with an ace when we already have one and would do better to acquire a middle of the rotation starter.
From Keith Law
““The Marlins actually have a history of moving guys early, and in Johnson — under control for whoever gets him for two more years — they have a player who is worth a major package of prospects. Think: two ML-ready guys, plus two solid prospects at the Double-A level.”
———————-
If you have to give up two MLB ready prospects and two double A prospects do we even have what it takes? Montero is ready for the majors with his bat but the Marlins have no DH spot and need a veteran C to work with a young pitching staff. Austin Jackson is pro ready but they have Cameron Maybin so they don’t want him, and if you throw in Montero you won’t throw in Hughes or Joba and I think it would take 2 of the 3.
Josh Johnson
For
Montero, Robertson, McAllister, Nunez
That’s two “major league ready players” (Robertson, Montero) and two double A players with some potential (McAllister, Nunez).
Johnson has a history of being injured and to me is not worth that package and I’m not even sure that deal would get it done but I wouldn’t trade that much for him and I definitely wouldn’t trade more for him.
So according to Jon Heyman the Blue Jays want Montero and either Joba or Hughes from the Yankees and they want Casey Kelly and Buchholz from the Red Sox… Is it me or are we giving up more for the same thing? Maybe it depends on who are the throw in prospects?
I personally would never trade Montero and Hughes or Montero and Joba for Halladay and I wouldn’t trade one of those combos for Felix Hernandez either… I would trade Hughes and Joba for Hernandez but that’s a different story completely.
Halladay is not worth trading top quality prospects for. He is 32 years old, a curve ball / sinker pitcher (prone to elbow injury). Sign good pitchers through free agency.
The Yankees would do better to put their trust in developing their young arms and put Phil Hughes in the starting rotation. Oh, and take Joba and put him back in the bullpen where he belongs.
You know, the Yankees won the 2009 championship because of a nucleus of players that came up from the farm system. Jeter, Rivera, Petite, and Posada all four came up together. Figure it out. Teams win when they build their nucleus from the farm system. They don’t win by trading away their top everyday position prospects for pitchers.
Additionally, championship teams are built up the middle starting with shortstop, catcher, centerfield, and second baseman. Good catchers and shortstops are the hardest to find. Posada and Jeter have a couple of good years left.
So, why would you trade away your future for a pitcher??? Pitchers are prone to injury and they don’t play everyday! The Yankees have made this same mistake before!
The Yankees should only consider trading their prospects for proven quality quality everyday players to fill the positions they need to fill such as centerfield or leftfield or even rightfield. Pitchers are too risky and in most cases have a short window of success.
And by the way, for the person that stated that one prospect was a proven player and the other prospect was not even though he is showing early success in the lower level minor league system, GET REAL! All minor league players are prospects until they make the majors and PROVE they can PLAY at the MAJOR LEAGUE level. There are no exceptions to that rule!