Just say no to Roy Halladay
by Scott Butler 7/20/09
I do not think the Phillies should trade for Roy Halladay.
Yes, Roy Halladay would make us an instant contender for the World Series. Yes, we could desperately use his arm in our pitching staff. Yes, we have the pieces in the minors to make it happen. Yes, this is a rare time in which we are not bidding against the Yankees or Red Sox. Yes, we are in the best positions of all teams to make the deal happen.
David Montgomery was on Daily News Live this week and basically stated that he would prefer to have a team that remains in contention for a title each year rather than win a title this year and fall of a cliff. Can you honestly say that in order to win the World Series again this year, you would be willing to deal with ten years of terrible teams? I doubt it.
I lived through the days in the mid nineties when the Phillies were the laughing stock of baseball and I don't want to go back. This is the first time in 25 years that we aren't in desperate need for a title. It would be nice to win another championship, but if there was any time when I wouldn't sell my soul for a championship, it is this year.
Most people fail to realize that we are not the Yankees. But money does play a part in this decision. Roy Halladay is going to cost roughly $15 million per year for each of the next few years if we get him, but JA Happ and Kyle Drabeck will cost next to nothing during that time. For example, Cole Hamels is in his fourth year and has great numbers and NLCS and World Series MVP trophies to his credit, but will be making less than $7 million over the next three years.
If we were to replace Happ and Drabeck with Halladay, we are probably going to need to let someone like Ryan Howard go in order to keep him. It just does not make financial sense for the Phillies. Don't let this year's payroll fool you - it is always business first with this ownership group and if it doesn't make them money they will not do it.
Finally, if Toronto wants JA Happ in the deal, we will be replacing Happ with Halladay, meaning that we will still be left with Moyer, Blanton, and Pedro Martinez/Rodrigo Lopez. I realize the importance of top starters in the playoffs, but if I am going to give away the farm for Halladay in order to improve a weak starting staff, I don't want to give one of my good pitchers in return.
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