Trying to Make Sense of the Roy Halladay Sweepstakes

Okay, before people go crazy about Roy Halladay, there are a few things you need to know. First and foremost, Roy Halladay is leaving Toronto at this year's trade deadline.

Secondly, he has one year remaining on his contract so he is not a rental. Everyone knows that.

What many people fails to realise or acknowledge is that Roy Halladay has a no-trade clause. So I'm sorry for all those wishful fans in Seattle, Queens, Chicago, and most other cities: Roy Halladay is not coming.

Roy Halladay will only waive his no-trade to four teams: the Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, and Dodgers. Those are the top four contenders for the World Series.

Another thing is that as the Yankees showed two years ago with Johan Santana, they have gotten smarter and aren't giving up picks and prospects for a player that may not re-sign. So in my opinion, the Yankees may be interested in Roy Halladay, but to no serious degree. 

This is also true with the Dodgers; they may have shown interest but same as the Yankees have no real interest in giving up their future for Halladay.

So that leaves the Red Sox and the Phillies. In my opinion, the Phillies will simply out bid the Red Sox because the Red Sox have gotten to the top with patience and there young players.

So Boston has enough patience to wait until the end of next season and battle it out with there division rivals in free agency.

So in my mind, Roy Halladay's future is going to be in Philadelphia and if he wins a World Series, there chances are he will re-sign. 

If not, the Yankees, Red Sox, or maybe even the Dodgers will come out of free agency in 2010 having not given up their future and still have Halladay.

So that just explains why most of the talk about Roy Halladay and where he's going is pointless, because he is going to Philadelphia and there really is no argument for any other team except Boston.