RealGM

the best prospect the phils gave up is currently on the dl with shoulder tenderness and didnt have to give up the top 4 prospects tat were being asked for halladay trade


couldnt we have gotten in on this?

I'm really not sure. I'd imagine the asking price would be slightly higher from an AL team and the Phillies did give up 4 of their top 10 prospects, although the only one I really like is Knapp. But if the Indians love Knapp and also think highly of one or two of the other guys, then I don't blame them for making the deal.

I don't know what it is about Cliff Lee but I don't love him that much, I really don't know what I would've been willing to give up for him. Probably not Hughes or Joba and definitely not Montero.

with wang out and joba innings limit, we need another starter

It's one thing to get a starter to fill a hole but it's another thing to sacrifice your top prospects to do so.

Cash probably thought the price was too high. He also expected Seattle to be sellers, not buyers. He had a hard on for Washburn.

Cleveland probably asked for Joba or Hughes, and we said no. I imagine their price was lower to just get him out of the AL.

Someone reported that the asking price was either Phil or Joba + more when the Yanks enquired a few days ago. Lee's a good pitcher but i'd still expect him to be more of a #2-3 starter over the long haul, so he isn't worth a package like that. The Phillies got a pretty good deal though and IMO it's not very defensible to give that much of a discount just to get the guy out of the AL.

Let's admit it. Any franchise right now will try to rape the Yankees for a decent pitcher. That's why if you're going to get raped, go for the best player in the league or nothing at all.