Man, I picked a hell of a day to start working again, didn't I? After hearing about Ruben Amaro trying to get Roy Halladay since July, it seems like a deal is just about in place, and man, is it a big one. Three teams are involved, with the Seattle Mariners joining the Blue Jays and Phillies. In the most recent update I've seen from ESPN's Jayson Stark, the Phillies would receive Halladay, Seattle's top pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont and outfield prospect Tyson Gillies. Toronto would receive three Philadelphia prospects: Michael Taylor, Travis d'Arnaud and either Kyle Drabek or J.A Happ, while the Mariners would pick up Cliff Lee, who is a free agent after this season. Yes, it's a blockbuster for all three teams.
Personally, I feel like losing Lee while picking up Halladay is a lateral move, but it's one that almost had to be done. The Phils had been talking with Lee in regards to an extension earlier this month, but most people have said that he wanted a long term, C.C. Sabathia like deal, this almost had to be done. Part of the trade includes Halladay signing an extension through the 2013 season with the Phillies, which will give the team a genuine ace for the next four seasons. If the Phils had stuck with Lee through this year, there was a very, very small chance that he would have signed with them, but it was highly unlikely. With a deal like this, the Phillies not only get the pitcher they wanted last July, but they have him signed for the next four years.
Of course, this deal isn't perfect. I'm not too happy with giving up Kyle Drabek, which was one of the big hold ups in making this deal with Toronto last year. Picking up Phillippe Aumont is hopefully going to make it hurt less, though. Aumont is a big, young pitcher with great stuff, but he's had issues with his hip in the past, and the Mariners were working on turning him into a relief pitcher in an attempt to get him to the majors quicker. It's always a big if when talking about a pitcher and hip issues, but if he does have them worked out, he could fill Drabek's shoes. The only question is when he would be ready for the majors, as he struggled in Double A ball this year with the Mariners. It looks like he's at least a year or two away, but he's only 20 and is still developing, so that time frame may decrease as the 2010 season starts. As for Tyson Gillies, he didn't start out as a prospect to watch, but after a great season in High Single A ball this year, he looks like someone that could reach the majors. He has great speed, but doesn't have much power, and while the California League does seem to inflate offensive numbers in the minors, I've read reports that place his ceiling as high as a Juan Pierre type player. I'm not saying that's great, but Juan Pierre has had a decent major league career, so it's better than nothing.
As with every trade, you have to give up something to get something in return, but at least the Phillies are getting something major back. Roy Halladay is one of the top five pitchers in all of baseball, and should only get better pitching in the National League. It does hurt to give up Cliff Lee after the run that he helped the Phillies on last year, but at the same time, knowing that Halladay is signed through 2013 makes that fact a little less painful. Losing Michael Taylor and Kyle Drabek or J.A. Happ is going to hurt, but taking two of the better players from Seattle's minor league system will hopefully help ease that pain. Besides, before they prove themselves in the major leagues, prospects are just that...prospects. Who can say that Drabek won't blow his arm out again in his first year in the majors, or Taylor turns out to be someone who can't handle the major league spotlight? I'm not wishing ill will on either one of them, in fact, I hope they have great careers, but it's just something to keep in mind.
The one thing to remember about this right now is that none of this is even official yet. Jayson Stark has reported that the deal is "close, but not done." If it doesn't get done, then forget everything that you just read. However, if it does get done, and that is more than likely going to happen, I just want everyone to get ready for the site of Roy Halladay in Phillies red. It's going to be a beautiful thing.
ESPN.com: Halladay to Phillies, Lee to Mariners deal close
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