Report: Sox To Move On Halladay Trade Quickly? Options

[Wingack]

New York Daily News

Thanksgiving isn't until Thursday, but the Halladay season is officially underway.

The Red Sox are "putting on a full-court press" to acquire Roy Halladay, according to a source, and are hoping to add the former Cy Young winner to the top of their rotation to go with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

"They would love to get it wrapped up before the winter meetings (beginning Dec. 7)," the source said of the Red Sox, who made a big push to deal for Halladay last summer.

If the Red Sox are serious about dealing for Halladay in the next two weeks, the Yankees will likely have their chance to get involved in the sweepstakes for the Blue Jays ace, although it will take a package of top prospects - as well as a sizeable contract extension for Halladay, who has a full no-trade clause - to get a deal done.

To land Halladay, Boston would likely have to give up Clay Buchholz, the organization's top young pitcher, as well as Casey Kelly, the pitcher/shortstop who signed with the Red Sox in 2008 after being recruited by Tennessee to play quarterback. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is said to be smitten with Kelly, which could be a sticking point in talks with Toronto if Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos insists on the 20-year-old being included in a deal.

The Yankees would love to acquire Halladay, although Cashman has been reluctant to deal away top prospects such as Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero for a player he would then have to sign for more than $100 million, such as Halladay. Toronto would also likely require either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain in a deal.

Other teams figure to be involved in the Halladay mix, including the Angels, who reportedly have stepped up their efforts this week as they prepare for the possibility that John Lackey will sign elsewhere.

[Mike Greenwall]

n/m. I'm going to need more details

This post has been edited by Mike Greenwall: Nov 25 2009, 02:49 AM

[SoxScout]

I'm going to need more details

The only details I want are the ones of Epstein telling them to screw.

[TomRicardo]

The only details I want are the ones of Epstein telling them to screw.

Telling who to screw? Toronto? Why? There isn't even a proposed trade in that article. Just a New York Sports writer naming the two prospects he knows in the Red Sox system. I would rather the Red Sox got this done sooner. Especially if Cabrera is available.

[Wingack]

Globe

The Red Sox are making a push to obtain Toronto ace Roy Halladay before the start of baseball’s winter meetings Dec. 7, according to industry sources. But the Blue Jays reportedly want top prospect Casey Kelly along with young starter Clay Buchholz.

[V.I. Tessie]

Oh boy.....here we go. Let the "Giving up the future for the present" comparisons begin.

I'll jump right in by saying that I feel incredibly uneasy with talks of trading a 25 year old major league pitcher with a prospectively big upside, and a 19 year old successful prospect pitcher (who's also a pretty good hitting shortstop) for a 32 year old ace.

However, that's just me and I look forward to the pros and cons arguements.

Nothing makes the winter go a little quicker like a really hot stove.

[sodenj5]

I've come to terms with trading Buchholz to acquire a big name player such as Halladay or Adrian Gonzalez, but Buchholz and Kelly? Come on, now. Maybe Kelly's ridiculous first half of the season last year was an abberation, and he comes back to earth, but his ceiling as a pitcher is huge. Not to mention the Sox are trading away 2+ potential cost-controlled studs to a division rival for a 32 year old ace that they'll have to pay 100 million.

Also, what would that contract mean for potential offensive upgrades? What does it mean for Beckett?

[AlNipper49]

Make sure you guys sign into the chat room tomorrow night!

[jacklamabe65]

It comes down to the CHARACTER of Clay in my mind. He has the physical stuff, but does he have the mental acumen to be a top guy. If he does, no thanks.

[GreyisGone]

It comes down to the CHARACTER of Clay in my mind. He has the physical stuff, but does he have the mental acumen to be a top guy. If he does, no thanks.

Oh for the love of God. We're back to this psycho-analysis BS?

[bosockboy]

I was hoping this wasn't the centerpiece of their offseason, but if it takes Buchholz/Kelly it likely will be. I guess I'm OK with it if they get the extension done....that will allow them a lot of flexibility moving forward with Beckett, and Halladay will age well IMHO. Should have 4-5 more dominant years.

If this happens I guess the plan is to resign Bay, and build a brick wall on the left side of the infield for Halladay. Hello, Beltre and Scutaro.

[yecul]

You have to think about why this information is out there: Toronto is leaking it.

They want Kelly and Buchholz. Duh. Note that there have been recent rumors about the Yankees being interested as well as the Angels and maybe other teams, including rough specifics or at least articulating some urgency.

Toronto needs to make up for last summer's dropped ball and want to generate as much interest as possible. Making sure everyone knows that teams are hot for him and a bunch of big packages are getting thrown around is going to help them out in that regard. A little marketing.

Boston won't trade that package, so no big deal. If they can get a window and extend him, then this is obviously a wise move. Halladay is a great pitcher and it covers you against Beckett hitting free agency with huge demands, which he's likely to do. That said, I don't expect them to be the team to get him.

This post has been edited by yecul: Nov 25 2009, 07:59 AM

[RedOctober3829]

If they want both Kelly and Buchholz I'd be asking for Adam Lind to be included in the deal. That's about the only way I'd give both of them up. I'm not sure you give up cost-controlled years of Clay without getting a window to extend Halladay. Also, if they do ink Halladay do you have enough money to extend Beckett as well?

OTOH, I have dreams of a Halladay-Lester-Beckett ALDS dancing in my head.

[Rough Carrigan]

Of course, Clay Bucholz pitched, arguably, a better game than either Lester or Beckett did in the playoffs.

[Joshv02]

You have to think about why this information is out there: Toronto is leaking it.

Right. Complete with a pseudo, media driven time line. Therefore, like all such rumors, discount everything until there is real reporting.

[absintheofmalais...]

Of course, Clay Bucholz pitched, arguably, a better game than either Lester or Beckett did in the playoffs.

Then that should answer the questions about his CHARACTER.

[HomeBrew1901]

I can't stand discussions like these because of the inevitable "YOU CAN'T GET RID OF HOT MINOR LEAGUER X BECAUSE HE IS AN UBERPROSPECT" arguments. For all we know Casey Kelly is just as likely to be the next Andy Marte as he is the next Pedroia so if it takes Kelly and another minor leaguer for Halladay I'm fine with that. He is a proven AL East ace with no history of health problems and provides Beckett insurance.

IMO you never give up a lot to trade for a 32 year old pitcher with one year on his contract that the Sox will need to extend, especially when Toronto screwed the pooch last year when Halladay's stock was a lot higher (a full season and a half rather than one season). I've never been a big Buchholz fan so if the Sox want to use Buchholz in a trade that brings in a power bat like Cabrera or a young phenom like Gonzalez then you give up [Buchholz in a heartbeat.

This post has been edited by HomeBrew1901: Nov 25 2009, 09:18 AM

[Drocca]

Why is there a hang-up over a 32 year old pitcher? History favors the 32 year old having more success in the next five years than the 25 year old.

[HomeBrew1901]

Why is there a hang-up over a 32 year old pitcher? History favors the 32 year old having more success in the next five years than the 25 year old.

The only hangup I have is what Toronto would want for a guy with 1 year left on his contract that is going to demand and is worthy of a long and expensive extension. If you give me a choice between a 32 Year Old Halladay and a 25 YO Buchholz, I'm taking Halladay every time.

[Rudy Pemberton]

I don't really have a problem with giving up Buchholz but giving him up for a pitcher who is signed for just one year, even though he's a great pitcher, doesn't seem like the best use of him given the team's long term needs at other positions. If the Sox give up Buchholz for Halladay, and give Halladay a ton of money, what does that mean for Beckett? What does it mean for the 3B / LF situation? Is there a plan to flip Beckett to the Mets for Beltran or Reyes or someone? Moving Dice-K? Or is this all just a smokescreen designed to distract everyone from what the Sox are really trying to do- a somewhat public announcement that the Sox are in on Halladay increases the odds that the Yankees land him, doesn't it?

Will be a good test to see if Halladay's value is really half of what it was at the trading deadline, as the experts predicted.