Ruben Amaro Jr. has a Christmas wish for Phillies fans, at least some of them.
Happy Halladays!
Unable to secure the Blue Jays’ stud right-hander Roy Halladay at last summer’s trade deadline, Amaro instead opted to bring in Cliff Lee. The deal worked out pretty well as Lee quickly established himself as the ace of the Phils’ staff.
But Amaro never lost his desire for Halladay. It’s an itch that he continues to scratch.
Now, it appears that Amaro is going to get his man. But it will come at a price.
Amaro is expected in the next couple of days to put the finishing touches on a deal that will bring Halladay to the Phils, while the team likely will have to bid goodbye to Lee and some prospects. And yes, that sounds a lot like the deal that was on the table back in July, when the Phils decided the price for Halladay was too big in terms of the young players they would have to give up.
There are several variations of the deal being floated around, but here’s what most have in common. The Phillies will get Halladay, while shipping Lee to Seattle for some prospects. They also will have to send some young players to Toronto, but it remains to be seen just who is involved and whether the Phils would have to bid adieu to prized prospects such as pitcher Kyle Drabek or outfielder Michael Taylor.
What this deal comes down to is that Lee seems intent on testing the free agent waters when his deal is over at the end of this coming season. On the other hand, it looks like the Phils are in the process of working out an extension with Halladay, who was in town to talk with the team on Monday.
If you wonder why the Phils don’t take on both Lee and Halladay, at lest for a year, take their best shot at another World Series crown, then let the chips fall where they may in terms of re-signing them, you are not alone. That will be the refrain heard over and over again from fans who fell in love with the gutty way Lee performed for the Phils last year.
But Amaro has Halladay on the brain.
Will it be a happy Halladay? We probably won’t find out until next October.
Happy Halladays!
Unable to secure the Blue Jays’ stud right-hander Roy Halladay at last summer’s trade deadline, Amaro instead opted to bring in Cliff Lee. The deal worked out pretty well as Lee quickly established himself as the ace of the Phils’ staff.
But Amaro never lost his desire for Halladay. It’s an itch that he continues to scratch.
Now, it appears that Amaro is going to get his man. But it will come at a price.
Amaro is expected in the next couple of days to put the finishing touches on a deal that will bring Halladay to the Phils, while the team likely will have to bid goodbye to Lee and some prospects. And yes, that sounds a lot like the deal that was on the table back in July, when the Phils decided the price for Halladay was too big in terms of the young players they would have to give up.
There are several variations of the deal being floated around, but here’s what most have in common. The Phillies will get Halladay, while shipping Lee to Seattle for some prospects. They also will have to send some young players to Toronto, but it remains to be seen just who is involved and whether the Phils would have to bid adieu to prized prospects such as pitcher Kyle Drabek or outfielder Michael Taylor.
What this deal comes down to is that Lee seems intent on testing the free agent waters when his deal is over at the end of this coming season. On the other hand, it looks like the Phils are in the process of working out an extension with Halladay, who was in town to talk with the team on Monday.
If you wonder why the Phils don’t take on both Lee and Halladay, at lest for a year, take their best shot at another World Series crown, then let the chips fall where they may in terms of re-signing them, you are not alone. That will be the refrain heard over and over again from fans who fell in love with the gutty way Lee performed for the Phils last year.
But Amaro has Halladay on the brain.
Will it be a happy Halladay? We probably won’t find out until next October.
Comments