If Jays ship Doc, it had better be out of the East

[LittleOzzy]

Every fan probably understands the Blue Jays may need to trade Roy Halladay, sooner or later.

Alex Anthopoulos, the new GM who was, presumably, kicking tires in Chicago on several possible deals this week, wisely is not playing his cards face-up here.

With a free-agent pitching class headed by John Lackey and not a lot of dazzle behind him, the market for a standout starter of Halladay's level should be substantial.

That said, the Jays simply cannot trade Halladay to either the Red Sox or the Yankees this winter. It would be too much of a betrayal of the fans.

You can't sell the slim hope that the Jays can be reassembled soon enough to beat one of either New York or Boston and thereby get a peek at the post-season, then turn around and feed your enemy. The Jays can't play this poor-cousin card, then turn around and hand their best toy to the rich kids.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ ... f-the-east

[Schad]

We're not likely to compete with Boston or New York anytime soon, so I don't care where Doc ends up so long as it provides the best return. Now, I don't think the Yankees or Red Sox are likely to provide that return, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be dealing with them...the more parties involved, the more likely it is that we get a good deal.

[Garmfay]

We're not likely to compete with Boston or New York anytime soon, so I don't care where Doc ends up so long as it provides the best return. Now, I don't think the Yankees or Red Sox are likely to provide that return, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be dealing with them...the more parties involved, the more likely it is that we get a good deal.

I would do something with New York like Montero + Joba/Hughes + another prospect.

[Schad]

I would do something with New York like Montero + Joba/Hughes + another prospect.

I'm not sold on either Joba or Hughes as starters, but Montero + Joba/Hughes + Zach McAllister and either a fringy guy like Gardner or a low-minors player would be a good package...not one I'd leap at, but one that would absolutely be worth considering.

[youngLion]

Anthopoulos says he'll trade him to the highest bidder, regardless of where they play. As Shad said, it's not like the Jays are going to be competing anyway for at least a season or two, so it would be kind of foolish to trade Doc for a lesser package instead of trading him within the division.

Personally I kind of want to see him go to the Mets just to see the havoc the Mets would lay on the NL with Halladay and Santana at the front of their rotation.

[Nolan]

Sounds like we're talking to the Phillies again about Halladay and Cole Hammels name is mentioned as part of the package.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2009/11/11/halladay_trade_rumours/#

Much like at the summer deadline, the Phillies remain in the mix and one National League executive pointed out that, "Philadelphia is into winning now and Halladay fits that."


Philadelphia reached the World Series in consecutive years, but failed to repeat as champions when the Yankees dethroned them in six games. One report out of Philadelphia linked 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels as a player that would head to Toronto. Hamels went 10-11 in 2009, with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. In 193 innings, he struck out 168 batters and walked 43.


Hamels was the centre of controversy during the World Series after his "I can't wait for it to end" comments were interpreted as throwing in the towel.

[Modern_epic]

That rumour has been shot down by the Phillies already.

[Morris_Shatford]

I would gladly take the Eric Aybar, Jered Weaver, and Brandon Wood offer that was rumored last season.

[Schad]

I would gladly take the Eric Aybar, Jered Weaver, and Brandon Wood offer that was rumored last season.

The big problem in that deal is Weaver: he's arb-eligible for the first time this year, and happens to be represented by Scott Boras. So while we'd have him for three years, we would have absolutely no hope of signing him long-term without paying him an absurd amount of money. By the time the team is realistically ready to be somewhat competitive, Weaver will probably be out the door.

Not saying that I wouldn't take that deal, but it's one thing to consider when evaluating offers of ML-ready players vs. those (like the many Philly variants) where most/all of the talent returned is still in the minors...if all breaks we're probably three years or four years out from any modicum of success, so our best bet is probably to go really young in the hopes that those players are reaching the big club at the same time our internal growth is showing through.

[Morris_Shatford]

I would gladly take the Eric Aybar, Jered Weaver, and Brandon Wood offer that was rumored last season.

The big problem in that deal is Weaver: he's arb-eligible for the first time this year, and happens to be represented by Scott Boras. So while we'd have him for three years, we would have absolutely no hope of signing him long-term without paying him an absurd amount of money. By the time the team is realistically ready to be somewhat competitive, Weaver will probably be out the door.

Not saying that I wouldn't take that deal, but it's one thing to consider when evaluating offers of ML-ready players vs. those (like the many Philly variants) where most/all of the talent returned is still in the minors...if all breaks we're probably three years or four years out from any modicum of success, so our best bet is probably to go really young in the hopes that those players are reaching the big club at the same time our internal growth is showing through.

If we land any talented pitching that may become "ace" worthy we are going to have to pay them one way or another, maybe the Weaver and Boras combo is the greater evil, but more then anything for me that deal is more about Aybar then it is about Weaver/Saunders or whomever is at the top of that deal.

Aybar IMVHO reminds me a lot of watching Hanley Ramírez work his way through the Sox organization all those years ago, and having someone to actually fill that void at SS long term is a pretty big priority for me.

And Wood is just another sexy infield bat with loads of potential.

While I understand the appeal of getting a minor league laden package for Doc,
I am passed the point of waiting on the Jays, I gave up my season after the first five year plan fizzled and now the organization expects me to stomach dealing Doc for kids?

Not sure what my thoughts would be.

[s e n s i]

Yeah, Schad's dedication to patience is admirable. I don't know how I can survive another 5 plus years of mediocrity, but it seems like it's the right thing to do, I guess.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Rather he doesn't goto the Yankees, mostly because I can't stand the Yankees. That being said, I'd much rather have Hughes than Joba.

As long as the Jays get the best package, even if it's in the East, then go for it.

[The_Hater]

If the Yanks for Red Sox give up the best return for Doc, that's where you send him. End of story. You have to worry about what's best for the Jays, not worry about where he's going. JP already made this same mistake by not taking the BoSox very generous offer at the deadline and we'll be luck to get anything close to that value now.

Even if you send him outside the divsision, there's no guarantee he won't sign a free-agent contract with one of them next winter. So there's no need to play silly games and take a bad deal just to avoid the 2 evil empires.

[MGD24]

looks as though he will be staying in the AL East if he is moved.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=301353

[trellaine201]

As in all trades, what determines the "best" deal. We will never know. This is where scouts and their best educated guess' come into effect.

I hope we get this over with sooner than later. Then we can look at other issues with the team.

[Michael Bradley]

Well if it is between Boston and New York, and the Jays do in fact have to trade him, then I'd lean towards the Yankees if Montero is on the table. He would be the best prospect either team could pony up. I would rather have quality (i.e. one stud prospect) over quantity (3 B level prospects), especially in the situation the Jays are in. To win the AL East you need to develop stars.

With all the alleged "demands" on Halladay's part, and given that AA may or may not be in over his head as GM, this might be a recipe for disaster, although I still expect the package to be better than Santana's deal (unless AA really goofs up).