By Zaki, PhillyGameday.com
This is exactly what everyone was calling for about five months ago and yet we’re all dragging our feet to welcome Roy Halladay to this town since we had to give up Cliff Lee to make it happen. Oh how quickly we have become spoiled, Philadelphia.
The Phillies gave up urinal pubes to get Lee in the first place, so even if they throw in Michael Taylor or Travis D’Arnaud to get Halladay, we got a trip to the World Series and now the top pitcher in baseball — with a new contract extension — in exchange for the pubes and possibly Taylor and/or D’Arnaud. Sounds like a hell of a job out of Ruben Amaro.
I think the thing that makes this especially nice is we’re hearing that Lee had no intention of signing a deal with the Phillies when his contract ended after this season, so getting something in exchange for Lee — other than a throw-in compensation pick — makes more sense than just letting him hit the market.
It really stinks that we were all just starting to warm up to this guy, but if he valued a big payday over sticking around with a winning team, then I don’t know if I wanted him here anyway. I’ve had enough of the athletes out for the paycheck. Lee didn’t seem like that kind of guy, but seeing how well this team was built and the direction this franchise is headed, I would think he’d want to stick around to ride the big red wave.
Good luck in Seattle and wherever else you end up in 2011, Phife-dog. Your three months with us were friggin amazing and I was definitely looking forward to getting a full year out of you…but Doc’s coming to town. I’ll say it again so everyone can let it sink in: Doc’s…coming…to…town. Get your popcorn apples ready.
Latest I’m hearing invovle Drabek/Happ. So it is no longer really a three team deal, but two separate trades. Halladay for Drabek/Taylor/Catcher Dude for Halladay and Lee for Aumont and a 21 year old outfielder. If so, definitely changes things. I would need the Blue to eat some of Halladay’s 2010 contract (hopefully the difference between him and Lee — about $7 million). Aumont comes close to replacing Drabek and would become our #1 pitching prospect. I like locking up Halladay, but is 3 years at $20 per really “below market”. I think the main issue with signing Lee wasn’t the money part of what he considered market, but rather he wanted 5 to 6 years. Phillies have an organizational policy to try to keep veteran pitcher contracts to three years and less due to arm injury risks.
I guess all i really said there was, “I’m not so sure this is a good deal, and I wouldn’t do it if Drabek is involved.”
Yeah as soon as I submitted this story, I saw that Drabek or Happ would be included, which completely changes things and turns this into a bad deal for Philly. I’m confused how we will basically end up giving up the same package for Halladay that we rejected back in July.
Seems really desperate…and for no real reason. I do my best satire when I’m pissed off, so if this goes down, hopefully I’ll get something decent out.
Now it looks like Lee, Drabek, Taylor, D’arnaud for Halladay, $6 million, Aumont, Gillies, and Juan Ramirez. At least it is a sweetened version of what we were reading last night (added the money I wanted and another prospect). Basically, we get Halladay at Lee’s price for 2010 and get three more years of Halladay for whatever the perceived difference is between the prospect groups. The only one I have seen alot of is Drabek, so I can’t really discern.