J.A. Happy Halladays?
The latest buzz around the Phillies clubhouse is the recent talk about acquiring starting pitcher Roy Halladay from the Toronto Bluejays. Roy Halladay a one time Cy Young winner is once again having another Cy Young type of year. He is posting a 2.88 ERA and a 10-2 record. The closest starting pitcher on the Phillie to ten wins is Jamie Moyer with seven. While his seven wins may seem good, it is quite deceiving. Jamie has six losses to go along with his seven wins and his ERA is over 5. Phillies ace Cole Hamels has a .500 record of 5-5 and a 4.70 ERA.
This brings me to J.A. Happ. Happ is pitching amazing for the Phillies. He is 5-0 and his ERA is the lowest on the starting rotation. To bring in a player of Halladay’s caliber, J.A. Happ my have to be shipped out. Is it worth it? Halladay is 32 years old and is owed a large amount of money due to his contract. Along with Happ, the Phillies would have to move at least one of their minor league pitching prospets. I personally think that if the Phillies could get Halladay without losing J.A. Happ then the trade would be well worth it. If we lose Happ, the fifth spot on the rotation is still left vacant and when it comes down to it, you always need a solid five man lineup. Send out some prospects, bring Halladay in, win another Penant…easy as that… well, at least to us fans.
-With Respect, Matt
I think they should get Halladay at any costs I am okay with trading Happ.
If they trade Happ, they will need to pick up another veteran pitcher. Pedro Martinez is on there radar supposedly and that would do the job.
They have to wait and see what pedro does for them
Pedro is about to sign!
Im stuck in the middle when it comes to trading for halladay. He is one of the best if not the best pitcher in baseball right now but im not sure if he’s worth what he have to give up. Say we do get rid of happ and some prospects for halladay, were really not improving at all. Happ is 6-0 and pitching unbelievable right now, you trading a pitcher whose hot, for another pitcher whose hot.Then your still stuck with that question mark at number five. The phillies have the potential to be really good for man years to come with the young talent they have in the farm system. A couple years ago the phillies almost traded utley and howard from zito who at the time was one of the nastiest pitchers in the game. Say they would have done that then you would have lost two abover averages players for a pitcher that just fell off. Its a risk and i believe its a risk they shouldn’t take. What about Gil Meche, lets bring him in for less. He can do the job and plus No one knows how pedro will do. I wouldn’t mind seeing halladay in phillie but i’m not going to jump up and yell at them until they do so, its a gamble, a toss up, that could end up a great trade or a terrible one. im not sure if i would do it though.
You make a valid point how the Phillies would be trading a hot pitcher for a hot pitcher. However, the difference is that you can count on Halladay to remain hot when it comes down to the end. Happ has been pitching well, but this is the first year he has ever pitched this great, and you never know when the run may come to an end. Also, if he gets hammered one game and gives up like 9 runs in two innings or something, we have no idea how he will recover. I am not saying this will happen, but you have to think about it. I hope Happ continues to play well as long as he is on the Phillies, but if we get Halladay it will increase our winning chances greatly. Another good point you made was with the prospects. This I have to agree with you on. They Phillies farm system right now has a tremendous amount of talent…well at least a few amazing players. Drabek is a future star of this league. Idk if trading him for a veteran pitcher is the brightest idea. I guess it comes down to the question of do you want to win in the Present or the Future?