Any chance Halladay returns?

[rarefind]

So just plain speculation here on my part, flame me if you must. Please just check my logic, because I don't see it as being so far-fetched. I'm aware that there is a Halladay thread, but I think this deserves it's own/

Roy's deal with the Phillies is set to expire after the 2013 season, 2014 if he picks up his player option to remain in Philadelphia. You have to figure that in approximately four years, the Phillies may find themselves in a similar situation the Jays were in when they dealt Doc. Chances are is that even with Amaro's astute abilities, the team will probably be looking to re-tool with their dealing of key young pieces (Taylor, Gose, Wallace, etc.). Not to mention, most of their key guys will be approaching their mid to late 30's. Chances are that the Phillies WILL win a world series in the time before Roy's contract expires and they will probably move some more prospects over this time.

While in Toronto, we are clearly in rebuild mode (despite our recent sweep of the Rays may suggest otherwise) and building for the future. The goal is easily to compete in the next few seasons for all the marbles. Gauging our youth, we should have a pretty scary team unless Rogers backs out from their commitment to winning. The key point that I am trying to make is that the Jays should be a contender when Roy's deal is up (He'd be about 35-36) and Roy returning to Toronto makes sense from both the team's perspective and also to Halladay.

Firstly, Roy was the greatest Blue Jay of all time. Some may debate this, but Roy was the best pitcher in baseball for a significant stretch of time with the Jays. Not sure how his abillities will be in three to four years, but you have to believe he will still be a top ten guy in the league. He has not had a history of injury, and has always been a big innings guy without strain on his arm. No way the Jays pass on him, even if you have a solid 5 guy rotation at the time. The value to Rogers in term of how they can sell returning a hero back to Toronto would be invaluable. From Roy's stance, we all know how much he wanted to win in Toronto. Roy was happy to go to Philly to get an opportunity to win, but he wanted to win as a Jay. This cannot be contested, by returning to Toronto in 2014 not only would be joining a contender, he would be returning home to finish his career where it started. We have seen this trend before in the past with Fernandez, Borders and Stieb for example.

your thoughts?

[oomalay]

I'd gladly welcome him, and love it if he came back, but I'd be more excited if we were a contender before Roy retires. Him coming back to the Jays would just be gravy.

[tecumseh18]

Yes, it would be very nice. He could play the "past his prime innings eater" role Jack Morris played in 1992.

[Pop Rozay]

only way i see him coming back is when either

a) he wins a championship and his deal is over and wants to retire with the jays
b) he doesn't win a championship and keeps signing with a contender till he gets one
c) doesnt win and loses his touch and jays bring him back

[Lateral Quicks]

I highly doubt it:

- he may not be as good at that point
- there almost assuredly won't be a spot for him in the rotation, as the Jays will have cheaper, and perhaps better (see point one) options
- I don't he's a good fit for the bullpen
- I have heard that he was not a good fit in the clubhouse

I wish him the best. I always thought he was a class act that always gave it his all, sometimes under trying circumstances. But his days as a Jay are almost assuredly over.

[J-Roc]

At that point, he'd be like an old Pedro Martinez, looking for money and being injured all the time. A luxury pitcher for big spending teams to throw money at.

That's what I expect, but if somehow he's still good and wants to come back, of course the door is always open.

[victor page]

I don't think Halladay will be an above average pitcher when his contract expires. If he wants to be a 4th or 5th starter here than hey why not. I don't think Halladay in 2014 will be as effective as Jack Morris in 1992. Morris was a beast in 1992.

Halladay pitches to contact which is fantastic now but if he loses 3-4 mph than hitters will be able to lay the hammer down on him more often. I actually think he's declined every so slightly every year over the last few years. It's hard to find example of pitchers over 30 who don't.

Jack Morris was a machine - he had that old school ability to get hitters out when he needed to. If his team scored 6, he'd hold the other team to 5. If his team only put up 1, in a big game he'd make that hold up for you.

[Randle McMurphy]

I don't think Halladay will be an above average pitcher when his contract expires. If he wants to be a 4th or 5th starter here than hey why not. I don't think Halladay in 2014 will be as effective as Jack Morris in 1992. Morris was a beast in 1992.

Halladay pitches to contact which is fantastic now but if he loses 3-4 mph than hitters will be able to lay the hammer down on him more often. I actually think he's declined every so slightly every year over the last few years. It's hard to find example of pitchers over 30 who don't.

Halladay is pitching more effectively and to less contact than ever before in his career. He hasn't regressed at all and is still the best pitcher in baseball by a healthy margin.

Basically, there's no reason to think he won't still be a decent-to-good pitcher in 4 years time, but will the Jays even need him? Too far away to say.

[Raps_Swingman]

At Halladays pace he should still very well be a good pitched in 2014. The guy is a workhourse and a better athlete then Pedro every was, who got fat near the end of his career. All the old guys that last in the MLB are guys who take fitness seriously and I expect Roy to be no different.

It would be great if he came back, definitely one of my favourite Jays of all time right behind George Bell and Joe Carter.

[tecumseh18]

Jack Morris was a machine - he had that old school ability to get hitters out when he needed to. If his team scored 6, he'd hold the other team to 5. If his team only put up 1, in a big game he'd make that hold up for you.

In the regular season, he did the job. Against Atlanta?

[J-Roc]

Problem with Roy is he's being worked like a horse and will continue to be as long as Philly is a so-so team.

[oomalay]

If he had no right arm and wanted to pitch for us underhanded with his left I'd still welcome him.

[DonYon]

I think halladay's a guy that can pitch well into his late 30s. If he wants to come back and if we're still lacking a top of the rotation inning eater in a few years then why not?