OT: Halladay to Philadlephia?
In what many turn out to be a super-ultra-mega-gigantic pitching blockbuster of epic proportions:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4742072
Three way deal between the Phillies, Blue Jays, and Mariners in which Roy Halladay goes to Philadelphia and Cliff Lee goes to Seattle, meaning some big prospects are likely to be involved as well.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:05 PM ^
good trade for phily, cliff lee is in his last year and didnt want to stay with philly, now they have roy for 3-5 years. im just angry because my cheap ass indians dont pay good players, and we could be really good right now.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
I thought he wanted to stay in Philly but wanted fair market value for his talent. In either case I'm so frickin stoked that the Mariners got Lee. Righty Felix and then Lefty Lee is a pretty darn good 1-2 punch. Great deal in my opinion.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:11 AM ^
I've followed the Indians since we got games on WUAB over the lake in the 70's and there is nothing more disagreeable than Blue Jay fans, believe me. Larry Dolan is the cheapest owner in sport and prevents Indians fans from success. That Hafner deal isn't much helping either.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:06 PM ^
As a Torontonian it pains me to see the Doc got traded, but hopefully they bring in a haul.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:31 PM ^
I feel your pain. However it seems we're getting two top tier prospects in Phillipe Amount and Michael Taylor. Also, possibly J.A. Happ is coming as well. I think we got a very nice return for Doc.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:37 PM ^
No doubt we will get a package, but Halladay is a legend it Toronto, and I won't get to see him at the Rogers Centre anymore.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
But he wasn't going to resign after his contract was up next year. Had to get something for him.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:12 AM ^
If Happ is included then that's not a bad deal for the Jays...
December 14th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
I live in Philly. Reports are Lee to Seattle, than Seattle sends prospects to Toronto.
Halladay flew into town this morning for a physical and to discuss a contract extension.
Lee has said he wants to be a free agent. So the Phillies weren't likely to resign him.
I think Halladay is a better pitcher than Lee so I'm pretty psyched about the deal.
Especially since the Phillies basically gave up nothing to get him.
edit:
Just heard the Phillies are also sending a prospect to Seattle with Lee. No names yet.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:49 PM ^
No more Halladay in the American League!
December 14th, 2009 at 8:07 PM ^
must love this deal - they should have no trouble with Toronto in the division this year.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
They didn't really have trouble with the Blue Jays when they had Halladay either.
Glad to see him somewhere he can't hurt us though. I remember a game in April '07 where he pitched against Bonderman. Bonderman gave up 1 run in 9 innings. Halladay gave up 1 run in 10. The Tigers lost.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:44 PM ^
As an M's fan I love Lee coming to Seattle, but am concerned that his contract is only for one year, and after that who knows where he will end up.
Seattle gave up a lot to get Bedard and that turned out to be a bust with Bedard spending a lot of time on the DL and the Mariners gave up one of the better young outfielders to get him. I hope that Seattle gets the best out of Lee and that he can be happy in Seattle.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:52 PM ^
The situations for the Mariners are entirely different. Adam Jones was already a guy with some majors experience and a high upside who just hadn't broken through yet. Aumont is a high upside arm but everyone knows how that can go. One minute you're the next Sandy Koufax, the next you've torn your rotator cuff and never recover. The risk/reward for pitchers is more dangerous than position players. Lee has already had a better career than Bedard had at the same point, not to mention the fact that he isn't made of glass like Bedard was.
Also Lee is most definitely going to be a type A free agent next year so if the Mariners can't get a long term deal done they will at least get some good draft picks out of him.
I haven't even touched on what a disciplined veteran pitcher may do for Felix's development and understanding of the game.
Get stoked about this trade because the Mariners made out like bandits. It's nice to have a competent GM in place finally.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
As a phils fan, I am pretty pumped about picking up Halladay.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:49 PM ^
Lee was so good for them this year, I just don't know how much better Halladay would be for them. Cliff Lee was really good during the regular season and was 4-0 in the postseason - how does having Halladay improve on that?
I wish there was a way for the Phillies to keep Lee and still get Halladay. Recall that all of the players Toronto wanted this past summer for Halladay, the Phillies still have.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:16 AM ^
Being in Canada we see all his games on TSN and I wonder what it will be like for Halladay to play in front of an actual offense night in and night out (like with All Stars and other players who hit more than .250 and with power...I'm looking at you Vernon Wells). Halladay is a total class act and you're lucky to pick him up.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:38 AM ^
a great talent. I do hope that the Phillies are indeed able to get the contract extension to make this work.
But with it costing the team Cliff Lee, if Cole Hamels doesn't come back around, the Phillies will still be with only one 1 strong starter. Unless of course Happ or Blanton has a breakout year.
What I actually think is driving this is that the Phillies have, as their 3 top starters, Lee, Hamels, and Happ, 3 left handers. That doesn't include Jamie Moyer as well. The Phils need a good right-handed pitcher - so Lee for Halladay makes sense.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:50 AM ^
The reason this deal is being done in the first place is because the Phillies have a policy of signing starting pitchers for no more than 3 years at a time. Halladay told the Phillies he would be willing to accept a 3-year contract extension for ~$20 million per year. Cliff Lee was not willing to accept anything less than 5-6 years.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:21 PM ^
I still cannot believe the Phillies trade Cliff Lee. At a salary of $9 million next season, Lee is a relative bargain. Oh well, at least the trade will return the Mariners to prominence.