Halladay/ Blanton Rumors

by Clyde Simmons on Dec 9, 2009 8:50 AM EST Comment 19 comments

MLB Trade Rumors (I know not the most reliable site) has discussed that multiple sources indicate that Joe Blanton is on the trading block, most likely involved in 3 way deal to bring Halladay to Philly. At first I was a little confused by this entire thing, but I am actually starting to think it makes sense, assuming Blanton yeilds and important piece to the Halladay trade.

Blanton will likely make 7.5 mil or more in Arb this year, which also happens to be his last year in arbitration. That right there is already half of Halladay's salary, and Blanton will most likely not yeild a draft pick if he signed with another team in 2011(I am not even sur we would offer arbitration if he would yeild a draft pick). Trading for Halladay will guarantee us 2 first round draft picks, which makes the sting of giving up prospects for 1 year of Halladay a little easier to take.

While I would not like seeing Drabek/Taylor/Brown in a trade...do you think think that Blanton could yeild a prospect high enough to make the deal without giving up Drabek/Taylor/Brown? Would you even make the deal if you had to give up Brown (probably the most likely to be traded of those 3)?

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Looking at how the Yankees are about to get Granderson for a #5 starter, a reliever and one top prospect it looks possible. The good news there is that deal also makes the Yankees less likely to compete for Halladay.

The halos, BoSox and Phils look like the only legit contenders for Doc at this point to me. If Blanton can generate a mid level prospect or a toolsy (for taco) prospect with questions marks, that could be enough if packaged with two from Drabek, Taylor or D’Arnaud.

the deal seems a little unlikely to me, but, as said above, the Yankees just got an All Star leadoff hitter for a bunch of junk they probably weren’t going to get much out of anyway.

by Cormican on Dec 9, 2009 10:29 AM EST reply actions

The question isn’t can they get him. The question is how do we afford him? Hopefully, we try to extend Cliff Lee, although the recent speculation is he wants to test free agency. Not interested in a one year Halladay rental unless we don’t have to give up a prime prospect, which seems highly unlikely. The only way this makes sense to me is if they are convinced Cliff Lee is gone next year. And it seems a bit premature to come to that conclusion.

by Boundforbeach on Dec 9, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

I’ve read Halladay wants an extension as part of his agreement to waive his trade clause. If that’s the case, it isn’t a one year rental. If you get to keep Halladay, but lose Lee, to me that’s a wash.

Plus a one year rotation of Lee, Halladay, Hamels, Happ and either Kendrick or Moyer looks pretty nice to me. I’d gladly send Drabek and Blanton away for a Cy Young winner.

by Cormican on Dec 9, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

It was my understanding that it was the Jays who said they would agree to a limited window to for teams to try and negotiate an extension to try and increase interest and maximize value, since teams are (rightfully) leery of giving up talent for a one year rental. All Halladay has said is that he won’t accept a trade (he has that power) once the season begins.

I also don’t agree that Lee or Halladay is a “wash.” We’ve now seen that Lee can dominate in the postseason, and by all accounts, has fit in very well with his teammates. We don’t know what Halladay will bring, and he’s never pitched in the postseason.

A rental is a bad idea, IMO, because it evidences shortsighted thinking. We have the 4th rated farm in all of baseball. Let’s keep it that way.

by Boundforbeach on Dec 9, 2009 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

You may be right that Toronto was asking for the extension negotiations.

Hamels also dominated in the ‘08 postseason and was useless in the ’09 postseason. I don’t put too much weight on that. I’ve never heard any locker room lawyer or cancer things about Doc, so I assume he would be a fine fit as well. I love Lee and would like to keep him, but if he is dead set on trying the free agent waters, we could end up with neither Lee or Halladay.

Besides, in theory here, we’d be trading Blanton for prospects and turning them and maybe one of our own around for Halladay. If you asked me today if I would trade Blanton and Drabek for Halladay, I’d have their asses on a plane to Toronto before you finished the damned question.

by Cormican on Dec 9, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

I’d rather give them a bat like Taylor or Brown instead of Drabek but either way I’d probably do it considered the prior asking price.

by Ant on Dec 9, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Would you still put ‘em on a plane if you knew we couldn’t afford Halladay long term and he was just a one year rental? Drabek projects (and I know there are no guarantees) as a top of the line starter for many years, and, more importantly, cost-controlled. I don’t know that I would be so quick to ship him out for a one year guy.

We’ve already paid our prospects for a Cy Young winner. We’d be better off focusing on signing him long term.

by Boundforbeach on Dec 9, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, I would. I’ve seen too many sure thing Pitchers fail to live up to their hype (Bruce Ruffin, Gavin Floyd, Bret Myers to touch the tip of the proverbial iceberg). Until a guy makes it to the majors and proves he really is a top flight pitcher I consider them all just trade bait. (TINSTAAPP if you will)

I, personally, would rather have one year with a rotation of Lee, Halladay, Hamels, Happ Kendrick, than hope Drabek beats the odds and doesn’t suck. If we had that rotation in this WS I doubt #27 would be in NYC right now. Besides we’d still have Trevor Mays and it’s not like Drabek is a sure thing with no red flags or flaws.

by Cormican on Dec 9, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

a Seattle fan on MLB trade rumors suggested Morrow and a low level prospect for Blanton. That would be too good to be true I think.

by Clyde Simmons on Dec 9, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions

I would love that!

by Ant on Dec 9, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

if this happens.... just wow

eff you we winning anyway

by eagleswin on Dec 9, 2009 2:57 PM EST reply actions

No trading any of our big three prospects for Halladay under any circumstances.

by taco pal on Dec 9, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions

agree 100%. We are going to need to have cost controlled talent…such as Howard and Victorino have been before the arb years kicked in to build any kind of perennial winner.

Maybe Anthony Gose…but I like him too.

by Clyde Simmons on Dec 11, 2009 8:02 AM EST up reply actions

Zolecki: "Phils Have Pieces to Land Halladay"

Link.

Still think there’s less than a 10% chance of it happening. Zo mentions that the Blue Jays would definitely have to drop their asking price significantly — Heyman tweets that Anthopoulos asked the Yankees for Jesus Montero, one of Hughes/Joba, and “more” — and I honestly think that the Phillies would have to ink him to an extension for any deal to make sense.

by PhillyFriar on Dec 9, 2009 3:19 PM EST reply actions

Seriously guys…this is just fluff being peddled to make people look at websites and buy newspapers in the MLB offseason.

Ignore all the crap. The phils signed Polanco and Schneider. Aside from needing a couple arms from the bullpen, they’ve already filled the two gaps they needed to (3B, backup C). You’re not going to get any blockbusters out of philly until next August.

by Bilzo on Dec 9, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions

Don't wanna spam, but

Apparently we’re frontrunners for Halladay now. Whether you think we need him or not, or if we’re even interested or not, it seems like it’s a great fit given the current sitaution.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/12/10/winter.meetings.phillies/index.html

I’d send Taylor, Kendrick (if possible) and whoever we get from trading Blanton for Halladay. Have Lee, Halladay, Hamels, Happ and Moyer/Who cares as a rotation. Really, the regular season would just be a formality at that point. And once we cut it to a 3 or 4 man rotation for the playoffs, Lee, Halladay and Hamels would rip sh!t up and give us a rested bullpen.

by PoorSports on Dec 11, 2009 9:33 AM EST reply actions

formality

hubris

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Dec 11, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

In your scenario Moyer would be in the bullpen. A 4 Lefty rotation would lead me to belive Charlie would look to a right handed pitcher to balance his rotation. Without Kendrick, I have no idea who that would be.

Also, if the Jays take Taylor, Kendrick and whatever average player we can pry loose for Blanton in exchange for Halladay, the new Jays GM should be fired the same day.

by Cormican on Dec 11, 2009 10:21 AM EST up reply actions