Trading Halladay A "No-Win" Situation For Jays

Trading Halladay A No-Win Situation For The Jays

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

By now everyone is very aware that Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Riccardi has been shopping his ace pitcher, Roy “Doc” Halladay. The latest reports suggest that a deal involving the Philadelphia Phillies has fallen through. It says here, trading Halladay is a no-win situation for the Jays.

Roy Halladay has been the pinnacle of a good citizen and consummate performer for the Blue Jays. Arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Halladay brings with him ‘zero’ baggage and a record that speaks for itself.

With Toronto baseball fans starved for any kind of success on the field the trading of Halladay would seem curious. That said, nobody is untouchable and, given the right package in return, the Blue Jays might just pull the trigger, but at what cost?

Consider for the moment that the Blue Jays currently sit 27th overall in a 30 team League in attendance. The team itself has a paltry record of 49-51, good enough for fourth in the American League East, 19th overall in Major League baseball. Simply put, that’s just not good enough.

The Blue Jays have been in a nauseating “Five-year rebuild” for well over a decade. For the most part, the fans are fed up with the status quo and want something to believe in. Blue Jay fans are fed up with false promises, poor performance from key players, such as, Vernon Wells and Alex Rios, to name a few. It’s time to put up, or ship out.

The Jays have the inexplicable ability to start the season off posing as ‘contenders’ only to fall apart by the middle of July most seasons, reverting to also-ran status. Fans are frustrated, players are mentally drained, all the while Yankee and Red Sox fans giggle like Dolphins at their delusional friends North of the Border.

Herein lies the problem with trading Halladay. The are “This” bad with him in the lineup, without Halladay, what are the Jays left with?

If J.P. does manage to pull off a deal he is likely to receive a ton of hate mail (More than he normally does) and I would assume the box office will take a further hit, if that is possible. Even if J.P. gets what is thought to be good value for Halladay it will be five years or more until Jays Fans see a payoff.

In five years time I suspect J.P. will be long gone. Which brings about the question, why the hell are the Jays letting J.P. handle the trading of the Blue Jays greatest asset? Hasn’t J.P. demonstrated that he is in over his head as a Major League GM? Hasn’t J.P. proven to be more talk than results?

If the Jays are truly looking to contend you don’t trade your number one starter, especially one of Halladay’s exceptional pedigree. Toronto baseball fans are not the smartest of the lot, but surely they understand that if Halladay is traded it’s ‘Game over’.

Trading Halladay might net the Jays some great prospects, but potential doesn’t win championships, arms and hitting does.

On the other side of the coin, what if, after all the rumors and talk, the Jays are unable to make a deal happen? Now you have a very uncomfortable situation on your bench. Does the otherwise polite and quiet Halladay start making some noise? What do you tell the fans now?

For the life of me I cannot understand the logic of trading Halladay. Many point to the fact that Halladay is unlikely to re-sign once his contract is up after the 2010 season. Well, there is a way to fix that. First, hire some competent people to fill Riccardi’s role. Second, make some key free agent acquisitions in the off-season. Third, give Wells, Rios and anyone else who is under performing a kick in the arse and finally, show the players you are truly committed to winning, not contending, not be a ‘good’ team, “WINNING”...

Halladay doesn’t want to leave Toronto, but he does want to win, which means, if things don’t change, he is as good as gone. Simply put, Halladay recognizes that another season in a Blue Jay uniform would be akin to starring in the movie “Groundhog Day”, same crap, different season.

The choice is yours Blue Jays management. Trade Halladay, live with your decision and potentially be a perennial also-ran for another decade. Or, give your head a shake, grow a pair, put on the foil, clean house and make the appropriate changes to right the sinking ship that is the Toronto Blue Jays.

Until next time,

Peace!