Red Sox Reportedly Offer Clay Buchholz in Deal for Roy Halladay

According to a Yahoo! Sports report, the Red Sox have upped their personal ante in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes this afternoon, offering Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden—the top two starting pitching prospects in the system as recently as last fall—and outfielder Ryan Westmoreland for the Blue Jay ace, potentially usurping what had been considered the best offer on the table thus far from the Phillies.

I’ve gone on record against the idea of obtaining Halladay, though I must admit, given the recent struggles of John Smoltz, the sudden injury to Tim Wakefield’s shoulder and the moaning from the Dice-K camp, pitching depth has never looked so appealing.

I’ve also gone on record in defense of Buchholz, whom I wouldn’t trade for Halladay, who is now 32 years old.  How many bullets Halladay has left is something of an unknown, even with his relatively healthy history and solid build.

But that still isn’t the deal I’d make.

Admittedly, my stance that Buchholz should be untouchable has softened in the last few days, as the trading deadline approaches and it becomes clear the Red Sox as presently constituted are not going to challenge for a World Series.  But if Boston were to move the burgeoning ace, my preference would be for a big bat.

Word has surfaced that the Sox are in the mix for Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, a tantalizing possibility that would almost assuredly require shipping Buchholz west.  They are also, reportedly, fighting for Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez.

Two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have made either move.  And I’m still not certain I would.  Jettisoning Buchholz is the ultimate gamble in that he is still inexperienced and could blossom into a front-of-the-rotation starter for the next decade.  But I have to admit, given the recent struggles of the offense, the opportunity to land a bat that could anchor the lineup for several years is tempting.

Let’s face it—David Ortiz isn’t getting any younger, and though he’s regained some of his power stroke, it’s not realistic to expect 2004 production from him anymore.  Mike Lowell is getting progressively more gimpy, and despite their propensity to get hot for month-long stretches, it has become clear that its difficult to build a lineup around either J.D. Drew or Jason Bay.

It pains me to say it, but the Red Sox have not had a truly fearsome presence in the lineup since Manny took his show to La-La land.  Either Gonzalez—preferably—or Martinez would fill that void.  Imagine trotting out a 2-3-4-5 of Dustin Pedroia, Gonzalez, Ortiz and Bay.

A trade for a bat would create something of an uncomfortable logjam in the lineup, one that would require the balancing of many egos, including Lowell and Ortiz, who would likely see fewer at-bats (Lowell already has, with the addition of Adam LaRoche).  But it’s the kind of move that is becoming more and more necessary.

In all honesty, the package reported in the Yahoo! article isn’t a bad one for Halladay.  Though I’d rather not lose Buchholz, it would allow the Sox to create the best 1-2-3 punch in the starting rotation in the Major Leagues without sacrificing Daniel Bard, who is emerging as the only truly untouchable arm in the Red Sox system.  Think Mariano Rivera, circa 1996.

And if the shoe that ultimately drops is a trade including Buchholz for Halladay, I won’t be complaining too loudly.  I will be admittedly worried that Buchholz will become a 20-game winner that torments the Sox for the next 10 seasons, but I might be considering that possibility while the Red Sox haul in two more World Series trophies. It would certainly be the most significant move made at this year’s deadline.

But there are others I’d rather see, and others that could make the Sox a team to reckon with for the next five years.  With Beckett and Lester anchoring the rotation, Buchholz and Bowden potentially joining the mix, and an offense built around a Gonzalez, it’d be hard to find a team better equipped for long-term success.

Perhaps it’s just the nature of the season.  But trades I would never have considered two weeks ago are becoming more and more interesting as they kick around in my head.  And even those that result in Buchholz wearing a different uniform are beginning to intrigue me.

The Red Sox don’t have a reputation of being quiet at the trading deadline. And given the latest report, it doesn’t sound like they plan on quieting down this year.