Bring Halladay to Chicago
Baseball rumors are like pimples on a 13 year old. They're everywhere. I'm not here to create one but I do have a suggestion for both our baseball teams.
The Toronto Blue Jays will not re-sign Roy Halladay who becomes a free agent after next season. In other words, they're looking to find him a new home.
How does the north side of Chicago sound?
And is there anything wrong with the team 8 ½ miles south?
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Don't think for a moment a deal to bring one of the best pitchers to our town isn't feasible.
It is. It wouldn't be easy, but it's possible.
First, it must be noted Halladay is one of the top starters of the decade. The others include Johan Santana, Roy Oswalt, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and C.C.Sabathia. Halladay is 139-69. That's 70 games over .500 which is tops though Oswalt didn't begin his career until 2001. Halladay also has a career 3.43 ERA. His strikes out to walks ratio is 3.3 to 1 and his whip is 1.2. And in a day and age when complete games are as common as Milton Bradley flashing a smile, Halladay has fashioned 18 of them the last two seasons.
And he's only 32.
Let's consider how both teams could swing a deal.
The Cubs first must deal with the issue of Bradley. No matter what, they'll have to eat some of his salary, probably lots of it. But to bring in a talent such as Halladay ( and remember, he'll likely command 20 million per season when he becomes a free agent), the Cubs would have to deal their most eccentric player.
Enter Carlos Zambrano. Think the Mets would take him? Likely in a New Jersey second! Tell those guy in Queens the Cubs would take prospects and some salary back. Same to any other team interested in a guy who can still be a top notch pitcher, so long as there are no Gatorade machines within striking distance. The only fly in this ointment is Zambrano's no trade clause. What's also important, when it comes to the payroll; Derrick Lee and Ted Lilly are in their free agent seasons and Aramis Ramirez can opt out of his contract.
The White Sox situation is also complicated. They already have a ton of money invested in Jake Peavy and Mark Buehrle plus one could argue with Gavin Floyd and John Danks, they don't need another starter what with Freddy Garcia looking like a capable number 5. But hasn't it been said a thousand times you never have enough pitching? The problem is the Sox payroll which has little room for manipulation. Unless you are offering Floyd and prospects to the Jays and possibly trading Jenks as well, you could get away with it. And it should be noted Paul Konerko comes off the books next season when Halladay becomes a free agent. The Sox are not about to give him a 5 year deal since they don't do those things anymore. Maybe they don't need him but imagine a rotation of Halladay,Peavy, Buehrle and Danks?
Like I said, it's possible but very difficult. Let's just say it's is something to warm your hot stove with.
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9 Comments
Lou from Cubscast said:
George, I agree that the Cubs should make whatever waves they need to in order to trade for Halladay. They can put signs on every square inch of the fence behind the bleachers if it would bring this guy to the North Side. You listed some of his stats including the complete games, and that's key. He's as durable as they come, with at least 220 innings pitched each of the last 4 years.
This guy is the Greg Maddux of this generation -- in line for a huge contract, but more importantly (hopefully) he's in line to net 80+ wins for his team(s) over the next 5 seasons. I'm not sure how any team including the Cubs could justify not going after him.
The team should right that wrong and persuade Halladay and the Jays to do a sign and trade. Sounds almost as far-fetched as a playoff win, unfortunately.
Lou
George Ofman said:
I agree about his win total the next 5 years, maybe even 85. getting him though, will not be easy.
Lou from Cubscast said:
If the Cubs are willing to take a mulligan on an outfielder besides Milton Bradley (ie...Fukudome), they could offer to pay $7 million of his salary each of the next two seasons to any team that will take him, saving themselves $14.5 million total. The previous team owners didn't seem willing to make these sort of deals but I wonder if the Ricketts family would consider something like this an option.
George Ofman said:
The only option is to get rid of Bradley, period.
Lou from Cubscast said:
I'm nervous with the phrases only option and Bradley appearing in the same sentence. That's what got us into this mess in the first place.
Bandwagon Driver said:
Not that i wouldn't love to have Halliday, but the Cubs addressing pitching this offseason is kinda like the Bears getting Cutler in theirs -- you've neglected a handful of more glaring issues: who's playing second? Center field? If you tackle these questions first and THEN get the guy, Milton Bradley can be put to work rolling out the tarp for all I care.
George Ofman said:
Hey bandwagon. You're right, they have other needs. That's why I said it wouldn't be easy. But if you could find a way, wouldn't you do your very best to get one of the best pitchers of the decade? I would.
Thanks for reading
Jason Gage said:
I realize I'm a Sox fan, but the Cubs have zero chance at getting Halladay. Even if they went to give up Castro, Vitters, and a heck of a lot more the club would also have to sign Halladay to an extension that will be 20M a season for at least 4 years.
The Red Sox and Yankees can't even afford that, so I'd be hard pressed to see how any other team in baseball, especially one that already has its hands tied with some horrendous contracts (Soriano, Fukodome, and Bradley).
Clearly he'd be a great acquisition, but at the cost the Jays want, plus the money it would take to sign him, I don't really see how he gets moved right now.
George Ofman said:
I can't disagree. It's a very long shot. Meanwhile, Sox have better shot because of young pitchers, jenks and minor league system. Not that they'll get him either, but better shot than Cubs.
Thanks for your comment
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