The Roy Halladay – Cliff Lee Blockbuster

This was not supposed to happen. The Phillies were supposed to have a super rotation, led  by Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, that would overtake the Yankees in next year’s World Series. Now, that will not happen.

The news broke late on Monday that Roy Halladay was in Philadelphia,

A video game simulation of new Phillies' pitcher Roy Halladay (above).

 negotiating a 3 year, $60 million dollar deal, after he was finally traded to Philadelphia. However, Phillies owner, David Montgomery, set a strict and tight $140 million dollar payroll, and keeping ace Cliff Lee would not allow that to happen. So, Lee was traded to Seattle. However, the trade leaves many in the city of Brotherly Love puzzled.

Quite frankly, Halladay and Lee are nearly on the same level of talent. Of course, Halladay is right-handed, which favors splitting up the Phillies left-dominated rotation. However, Cliff Lee won the hearts of Philly, trotting out with one great performance after another. Lee lead the Phillies to their second consecutive World Series, albeit a loss.

The plot twist came long after the season was over. It was first reported in early December that the Phillies were working on a long-term contract extension with Lee, and he appeared to be open to it, saying that he enjoyed his time with the Phillies. Although, as the month went on, the rumors began to surface that Philadelphia was contemplating trading Lee. Actually, when I first heard this, a friend told me, and we both laughed at the crazy idea. However, it was that same day that Lee was traded to Seattle, and Roy Halladay was in Philly.

What is confusing to the public and sports experts is why the trade was made now. At the trade deadline, when Halladay was passed over for Lee, it was because the Phillies did not want to give up their top pitching prospect, Kyle Drabek. However, when Lee declined working out a long-term deal, the Phillies could not take the chance of losing him in the offseason for nothing. On the other hand, Halladay agreed to an extension before the trade was even completed. So, the deal came, in which the Phillies gave up Drabek, top prospect outfielder, Michael Taylor (who is being traded to Oakland in a seperate deal), and top prospect catcher, Travis D’Arnaud. This was a steep price for the Phillies, but they acquired prospects for Cliff Lee.

New Phillies' prospect, Phillippe Aumont (above), pitching for Team Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

These prospects are all former first round picks, starting with reliever Phillippe Aumont, outfielder Tyson Gillies, and pitcher J.C. Ramirez. This group of prospects is widely regarded as worse than what the Phillies gave up, but just what Philadelphia may need. Above all, Aumont is a 6’7″ reliever who throws hard. If he has a good spring, Aumont could definitely find himself a spot in the Phils’ bullpen.

Now that the dust has settled, the Phillies made a trade that will be questioned for probably the next four months. There is no way of telling how this trade will work out, since most of the players in the deal are prospects, and there is no way of telling how Halladay or Lee will perform. It is possible that the Phillies could have created a situation similar to the Johan Santana situation a couple of years ago, in which the Twins had one offer left and were forced to take it. That would’ve enabled Drabek to possibly stay a Phillie, but Lee’s unwillingness forced this trade to happen. As of now, the Mariners look to have won this deal, as they will trot Felix Hernandez and Lee out every five days, but the Phillies may have won it both in the short and long-term. ESPN analyst John Kruk went as far as to predict that Halladay will win the NL Cy Young in 2010. No one knows what will happen, but over the next eleven months, the Phillies may show that trading for Halladay was the right move.