The Only Way to Trade Halladay

Roy Halladay has not been traded to the Phillies yet,but I have done some research and while this article will be short and straight to the point here is the reality not a scenario facing the Blue Jays 

Roy Halladay is basically either the first, second, or third best pitcher in baseball depending on who you talk to. I will not accept anything less than the Phillies best for one of the premier pitchers in the game and subsequently the likely reason why Philadelphia would repeat.

Here is what the Blue Jays need to get with no exceptions unless they can somehow convince someone…anyone to take either Wells (preferably) or Rios (less expensive option but still needs to be traded)

Kyle Drabek\Jason Knapp, Michael Taylor, Dominic Brown, and Lou Marson, for Halladay.

Am I crazy? Not really. But seriously if the Phillies want to hang on to Drabek then he must be replaced with Jason Knapp; Bottom line, no exceptions. Taylor and Brown are the Phillies two best outfield prospects and ironically their next two best prospects after Drabek. The Jays need a catcher as Barajas is getting a bit older and isn’t exactly a physical specimen as he approaches forty. Lou Marson fills a need and allows the Jays top catching prospect flavor of the month J.P. Arencibia some more time to find out how to take a ball. Can anyone remember the last time an actual Jays catcher prospect actually worked out?

Ideally JP would be able to package Rios and Halladay for Werth and the above mentioned prospects but we can’t get everything we want in one move. It would be like the expecting the economy to recover with grants or loans from the government. (wait that actually happened, sorry my apologizes). I also would like to share some online scouting reports that have gotten me actually excited about these players.

http://www.reclinergm.com/phillies-top-20-prospects-mid-season-2009/

http://www.scoutingbook.com/prospects/PHI

I know that these are not ‘official’ scouting reports but these writers\bloggers have followed the Phillies farm system more intently than I have. You can be the judge but please don’t attempt to sell me on Jason Donald it’s just not going to work.

Without a shadow of a doubt if JP manages to goof this up (a possibility I have long considered) and does something ridiculous like acquire Hector Carrasco (not a bad pitcher but not in a league of Drabek, or Knapp). It has been several times over that this trade will shape the foundation of this franchise for many years. While acquiring strictly minor leaguers are not a great thing it’s a step in the right direction for a franchise that has only treaded water for many years in a sinking ship.