The Phillies Have to Trade For Roy Halladay? Not So Fast, My Friend

Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball.

Let’s get that out of the way right now.

It isn’t that he wouldn’t make the Phillies World Series favorites; he absolutely would.

But what would be the price?

If the Blue Jays were asking for a ham sandwich and Eric Bruntlett, this trade would be a no brainer. But they are not.

Toronto general manager J. P. Ricciardi says that he is looking to be “blown away.”

Remember, Halladay is under contract through the end of 2010, so it isn’t as if the Jays have to trade him now or risk losing him for nothing.

They are not desperate.

They just stink.

Therefore, it will require a king’s ransom to make this happen. Logic says that the Blue Jays will require a major league pitcher (it isn’t going to be Brett Myers, kiddies), plus at least two, possibly three, blue chip prospects to get this done.

Thus, for the Phillies, you are looking at JA Happ, Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and possibly Jason Donald or Lou Marson.

Happ has been their most consistent pitcher this season.

Drabek has wowed everyone in baseball with his comeback from Tommy John surgery, and is penciled in as at least the number three starter next year.

Michael Taylor is a legitimate five tool stud who may be an all-star for the next ten years.

Frankly, Donald and Marson are very good players, but not as good as those three,

Still, Marson is likely to be a very good catcher, and those don’t grow on trees. Donald is stuck until Jimmy Rollins leaves, so he is definitely tradeable.

Oh, and for those thinking that a package of Carlos Carrasco, Kyle Kendrick, Donald, and Marson will get it done, you are dreaming.

Not gonna happen.

The Blue Jays are not going to make that trade, sorry Charlie.

The fact of the matter is, with the addition of Pedro Martinez, the Phillies are good enough to win as constructed.

If you were told before the season that at the all-star break, the Phillies would be leading the division by four games with two games in hands, you would take that, wouldn’t you?

What if you were told that Pedro Martinez was going to be added to the rotation?

Would you take that?

In a heartbeat and that is where they stand.

They are hitting as well as they have all season. They are coming off one of their best homestands ever, and have a chance to bury the Marlins this week.

Now, they have a three-time Cy Young winning, World Series Champion, and future hall of famer taking the mound once every five days.

Is Martinez what he once was?

No but for the first time since early in 2006, he is healthy and his head is clear. His fastball is as good as it has been in years. He has a chip on his shoulder for not being signed until now.

Most importantly, he didn’t require the Phillies to gut their farm system to come aboard.

Remember 2008, when everyone was screaming for the Phillies to get the best pitcher available, CC Sabathia?

Remember that they got Joe Blanton instead?

Remember that the Brewers gutted their farm system to get Sabathia?

Sabathia and the Brewers went to the playoffs. Blanton and the Phillies got a ring.

It says here it happens again wiithout Roy Halladay.