Blue Jays contact Cubs about Halladay

[Neuby]

http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/11/1120_cubs_blue_jays_talk_re_ha.html

 

11/20 Cubs & Blue Jays talk re: Halladay

The Cubs are one of the teams the Blue Jays have contacted regarding pitcher Roy Halladay. However, before Cubs fans start salivating at the prospect of the former Cy Young winner in the rotation with Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, and Ryan Dempster, there's a catch. He's owed $15.75 million in 2010, and the Blue Jays want some of the Cubs' top prospects. No. 1, the team can't take on Halladay's salary. The Blue Jays apparently have a wish list and Milton Bradley is not on it. A player like highly regarded shortstop Starlin Castro most likely is, and the Cubs don't want to part with him, especially since they might only have Halladay for one year. The right-hander was 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA this season, and is a free agent after 2010. One thing the Blue Jays did make clear to the Cubs is they want to move Halladay this offseason.

[OleMissCub]

This oughta be good

 

http://i39.tinypic.com/23m7tjd.jpg

[rocket]

in a new twist, the cubs now have the prospects to make impact deals but don't have the cash. damn it all.

[Bote McBoteface]

Didn't take long to find our new Brian Roberts.

[Sever82]

Wouldn't trade Castro in a deal for halladay. The cubs rotation was one of the tops in the league last year, pitching is not something the cubs need right now. If the Marlins came calling and wanted to work a deal for Hanley than i would listen but for an Ace who's on the wrong side of thirty, i wouldn't do the deal if it meant giving up Castro. If the Cubs can get him by giving up Vitters, Cashner, Jay Jackson and maybe a lesser prospect than maybe. Shortstop is a position the cubs need someone in.

[sweetpeteman]

Didn't take long to find our new Brian Roberts.

 

 

Nah, this one will die really quickly. The Cubs aren't in a position to take on the money, don't want to give up the prospects for what is probably going to be a one year rental, and starting pitching is low on the list of needs. Granderson will probably be this year's Roberts.

[CUBZ99]

I would love for the Cubs to get Halladay and even consider trading Castro for him, but I think Hendry has hamstrung the Cubs with his overspending in past years.

[UMFan83]

Page 1!

 

But seriously, you gotta think the Cubs could take on the money for an impact player if they really had to. This is certainly an impact player. Bottom line is, the Cubs don't have a dominant ace pitcher or a dominant middle of the order hitter. It doesn't mean they don't have very good pitchers or hitters, but still. So is that important to have? I don't know, did Cliff Lee help this Phillies this year?

 

I would accept arguments of the contrary, but I think if you have an opportunity to get one of the top 3 hitters or pitchers in baseball, and they come to YOU asking about it, you have to pull out all the stops to do it. Maybe they ask for too much and you don't want to mortgage your long term plan (wait this is the Hendry led Cubs were talking about, there's no long term plan), but at least you can rest easy knowing you offered all you are willing to give for a player like Halladay. This isn't Peavy we're talking about, who is a top tier pitcher in his own right. Halladay puts up ridiculous numbers in a tougher league, a much much tougher division and a tougher ballpark to pitch in (mostly). If you were in the running for Peavy, you without a doubt have to be in the running for Halladay.

 

All we have to do is not sign a bunch of MRPs for 3+ million dollars a year and we can find a space for him (WHOOPS). As for him being a FA after next year, I am assuming they would try to work out an extension as a precursor for a trade, and if not, I don't know too many (white) ballplayers that don't want to be Cubs after playing here for a year.

 

Edit: If he can put up a 2.79 ERA in the AL East, I can only imagine how much better that would look in the NL Central. I know it doesn't always work like that but still.

[Rob]

Good negotiating move by the Blue Jays. They know getting us involved will only drive the price up.

 

And I'm sure Hendry realizes that, even if he has no intention of giving up what it takes to get Halladay, staying involved in negotiations will increase the price other teams need to pay.

 

I predict this to drag a long while, but for us to never get terribly close to acquiring him.

[UMFan83]

Good negotiating move by the Blue Jays. They know getting us involved will only drive the price up.

 

And I'm sure Hendry realizes that, even if he has no intention of giving up what it takes to get Halladay, staying involved in negotiations will increase the price other teams need to pay.

 

I predict this to drag a long while, but for us to never get terribly close to acquiring him.

 

Do you think a division rival like the Brewers or Cardinals will get involved in the mix? I don't think the Cardinals would, but maybe the Brewers if they can discuss an extension. The Brewers seem to be looking in the 2nd tier of FA starters this offseason, but if they can get one with the money they were going to give to Sabathia last offseason they might be willing to throw part of what is left in their farm system.

[Tim M]

I'd give up anyone in our organization for Roy Halladay. Our rotation would immediately become the best in baseball, especially if Lilly is fully recovered. I just don't think this happens because we'd need to sign Halladay long-term to justify giving up our top prospects and I doubt Ricketts wants to hand out an enormous contract anytime in the near future.

[Neuby]

Randy Wells/Josh Vitters/ Jay Jackson/Sean Marshall/ Ryan Flaherty

 

Is it enough to entice the Jays?

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd have to think that'd get it done. I wonder if whoever it was that pushed for Wells in Rule 5 is still there.

[Tryptamine]

Randy Wells/Josh Vitters/ Jay Jackson/Sean Marshall/ Ryan Flaherty

 

Is it enough to entice the Jays?

 

You want to give up 3 of our top 10 prospects, a young cheap MLB proven starter and a good bullpen arm for ONE year of Halladay? Unless the Cubs feel like they are a WS contender there is no reason to empty the farm for one year of a player. Even then, I'd prefer they spend all those prospects on a top notch impact bat.

[Backtobanks]

I'd give up anyone in our organization for Roy Halladay. Our rotation would immediately become the best in baseball, especially if Lilly is fully recovered. I just don't think this happens because we'd need to sign Halladay long-term to justify giving up our top prospects and I doubt Ricketts wants to hand out an enormous contract anytime in the near future.

 

I don't remember where I saw it, but a baseball scout used the term "Hanley Ramirez" to describe Starlin Castro. I'd be careful about trading "anyone in the organization".

[Neuby]

Randy Wells/Josh Vitters/ Jay Jackson/Sean Marshall/ Ryan Flaherty

 

Is it enough to entice the Jays?

 

You want to give up 3 of our top 10 prospects, a young cheap MLB proven starter and a good bullpen arm for ONE year of Halladay? Unless the Cubs feel like they are a WS contender there is no reason to empty the farm for one year of a player. Even then, I'd prefer they spend all those prospects on a top notch impact bat.

 

But in that deal you keep Shark,Cashner,Castro, Jackson, Lee,Marmol,Soto, ect and after all is said and done Halladay might not just be a one year rental .Flaherty is blocked by Castro/Lee at this point.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Randy Wells/Josh Vitters/ Jay Jackson/Sean Marshall/ Ryan Flaherty

 

Is it enough to entice the Jays?

 

You want to give up 3 of our top 10 prospects, a young cheap MLB proven starter and a good bullpen arm for ONE year of Halladay? Unless the Cubs feel like they are a WS contender there is no reason to empty the farm for one year of a player. Even then, I'd prefer they spend all those prospects on a top notch impact bat.

 

If It was a guarantee that we could lock him up for 3-4 years, then I would do it, but if he said he was going to test the FA market after this year, AKA wait for a bidding war betwen the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and Mets, then no.

[UMFan83]

Again, I don't think the 1 year on the contract is a huge deal for a couple reasons:

 

1) The Cubs wouldn't trade for Halladay unless they intended to have the resources to resign him

2) I cannot think of a player that played well for the Cubs and didn't want to resign here if all offers are equal. I understand a team like the Yankees or Red Sox or Mets could come in and blow him away with an offer, but most likely Halladay would fall in love with the Cubs by the spring and he might not even make it to the offseason without being resigned.

3) The Cubs would most likely try to extend him upon making the trade (a la Santana), and I can't see him turning that down assuming the offer is fair, all caught up in the hype of going to one of baseball's "cornerstone" franchises, and to a team likely to contend for a title with him in the rotation.

 

Yes I can buy an argument that it's not guaranteed he'd resign, but I guess it just doesn't bother me because I think he will.

[Guancous]

Do you think a division rival like the Brewers or Cardinals will get involved in the mix? I don't think the Cardinals would, but maybe the Brewers if they can discuss an extension. The Brewers seem to be looking in the 2nd tier of FA starters this offseason, but if they can get one with the money they were going to give to Sabathia last offseason they might be willing to throw part of what is left in their farm system.

 

Can you imagine the Cardinals with Halladay, Wainwright and Carpenter? I'm glad that Brett Wallace is long gone. The last thing they need is another trading chip.

[CubColtPacer]

I tend to agree with those who think that Halladay would likely extend with the Cubs if he was traded here. But I have serious doubts if an extension would actually be a good move with the money/years that Halladay will likely be asking for. The Blue Jays will almost certainly be asking for much more than I would be willing to pay because I would likely be unwilling to sign Halladay to an extension, and 1 year of Halladay is only so valuable.

[Tim M]

I'd give up anyone in our organization for Roy Halladay. Our rotation would immediately become the best in baseball, especially if Lilly is fully recovered. I just don't think this happens because we'd need to sign Halladay long-term to justify giving up our top prospects and I doubt Ricketts wants to hand out an enormous contract anytime in the near future.

 

I don't remember where I saw it, but a baseball scout used the term "Hanley Ramirez" to describe Starlin Castro. I'd be careful about trading "anyone in the organization".

 

I think that's probably wishful thinking. I'm really excited by Castro but the odds that he becomes a top 5 player in baseball like Hanley are incredibly slim. I'd be extremely hesitant to deal him but for a guy like Halladay you have to make that move IMO.

[Clem Fandango]

This oughta be good

 

http://i39.tinypic.com/23m7tjd.jpg

 

Too soon.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Didn't take long to find our new Brian Roberts.

 

Nah, I wouldnt be surprised if this one runs out of steam by the end of the weekend.

[TruffleShuffle]

milton bradley and 2 ptbnl should be enough.

[USSoccer]

We probably only have one year left in our window anyway.

 

I'd probably pull the trigger.