The Halladay and Hamels trade debate
by Scott Butler 11/20/09
I'm sure you've heard the rumor that the Phillies were considering trading Cole Hamels to the Toronto Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. That would give us a starting rotation of Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ, and Jamie Moyer. Two Cy Young award winners, one ageless wonder, and a near Rookie-of-the-Year. Wow!
Now I am going to explain why we should NOT make that deal.
#1 Do you want to be the Yankees?
I might have lost some of you already, but I am serious. Do you really want a team that buys championships? Believe me, I want another championship as much as anyone, but I want to feel like we earned it. Just going out and emptying your pockets...what fun is that?
#2 We aren't the Yankees
The Phillies' ownership is doing pretty well for themselves these days, but they are not the Steinbrenners. If we get Roy Halladay, we simply will not be able to keep together the everyday players we love so much. Do you still think it is worth it to rent Halladay and give up your future for one championship?
#3 Cole Hamels
If Ruben Amaro sits down and truly believes that the Cole Hamels we saw last year is the real Cole Hamels, then this might be a good trade and I would be behind him 100 percent. However, if he thinks the best is still ahead of Hamels, this is a trade that could haunt you for 15 years. Halladay will turn 33 next season and may only give you five good years at best before he is finished. Hamels is only 27 and if he is close to his 2009 playoff form, why on earth would you trade him? There is a chance, albeit slight, that he could even be better than Halladay next year.
#4 Just a replacement
The Halladay deal would be much more enticing if we would be adding him to the rotation, but in this case we would be replacing Hamels with Halladay. When I'm giving up the farm, I hope it is for more than an upgrade.
#5 The Future
I am not a fan of the Phillies ownership group but I will agree with one thing David Montgomery said: if I have to choose between having a team that competes for a championship every year and a team that wins the World Series and then falls off a cliff, I will take my chances with the first option any day of the week. I lived through the terrible teams before and after 1993 and I don't want to do it again. Who knows how our prospects might turn out, but I don't want to give every single great prospect for one player. There is a reason why nobody got Halladay last year. It's just not worth it.
The dream of having Lee and Halladay at the top of the rotation is great. It almost guarantees we will be favorites to win the World Series next year. But I think we can compete and win with the team we have and it gives us a better chance to keep competing for a long time.
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