MLB Hot Stove: Lackey to Red Sox, Halladay to Phillies, Lee to M's

The winter meetings are underway, and multiple important details have already dripped out.  Jason Bay is unlikely to re-sign with Boston.  Because of this setback, the Sox have taken the opportunity and extra money from not signing Bay, and have invested it in John Lackey, a 31-year-old ace.  The deal is about the same as Burnett's.  Five years for about 82.5 million dollars. 

But Lackey and Bay aren't the only big names coming out right now.  There is breaking news about Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee as well.  A three-team deal that would send Halladay to the Phillies (he will sign an extension as well) and Lee to the Mariners is in place.  

Although I am probably a biased Sox fan (although I try not to be) I think it's fair to say that with the Lackey signing, we have arguably the best rotation in the majors.  This is what it will most likely look like:

1. Josh Beckett

2. Jon Lester

3. John Lackey

4. Daisuke Matsuzaka

5. Clay Buchholz/Tim Wakefield

The fifth spot is wide open in my mind, though I believe it should go to Buchholz.  He really came into his own late last year and showed why he was such a good prospect.  In other news involving the Sox, they have offered a $15.5 million deal at about three or four to prized Cuban prospect Aroldis Chapman.

He is thought of as one of the top three players in the world that don't pitch in the majors, others including minor leaguer Stephen Strasburg and Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. Chapman's agent has stated that while he's looking for about $50 million, he will pitch in the majors for as little as $15 million. 

However, he IS a prized prospect and therefore I think he can probably get a little more (the Yankees are involved, after all).  He may indeed sign though, as he has expressed interest by visiting the Red Sox with his brother.  Now the Sox need another bat, and while Bay is gone, they are still looking at Holliday and possibly Adrian Gonzalez. 

The problem with Gonzalez is that the Padres are looking for a lot; a lot meaning Ryan Westmoreland, Casey Kelly, AND Clay Buchholz.  If there are any Sox fans out there, they know that this trade would probably be considered the stupidest trade ever done for the Sox if it went through.  The Sox want, but will almost surely not get, Gonzalez.  

Now let's get back to the blockbuster deal, involving Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.  It will be a three-team deal, with the Phillies receiving ace Roy Halladay and the Mariners receiving ace Cliff Lee.  Presumably, the Blue Jays will get a ridiculous amount of prospects, though there could be a twist; most could come from the Mariners.

After all, it is they who are getting a brand new ace.  The Phillies get an ace for an ace. An upgrade, yes, but I doubt they will give too many prospects in this deal providing they don't get anything more than Halladay.  In this deal, Halladay is also expected to sign an extension with the Phillies.  One of the biggest blockbusters in a while.  

That's all for today, if there are any other big names moving around, I will write about it.