Phightins

Couple reasons. First, nobody knows if he can stay healthy for a full year. Remember he did not start pitching until July this year. Second, he wants more money than the Phillies (or anybody really) would be willing to pay for a 5th starter. Still a chance he comes back but I don't see it happening.

Pedro is a free agent who most likely will not be back, and if they deal for Halladay I'd expect to see Blanton traded to clear up salary. So not quite that exact rotation.

The Phillies objective is to insure that they have a true ace locked up beyond this coming year. This core is in their prime and they do not want to miss a beat if they lose Lee. While I agree that the best possible scenario is having both of them and getting them both locked up, if they feel they have a good chance of losing Lee and decide to pull the trigger on a trade like this I'd understand it. I had previously heard that the Phillies would try to deal for Josh Johnson or Felix Hernandez next year if they were to lose Lee, but something like this would solve that problem.

Ken Rosenthal speculated that the Phillies may try to swing a three-team deal for Halladay, including sending Cliff Lee somewhere. At first I read the headline and just assumed Ken was going off the deep end, and did not really put any stock into it. He does not have any "sources", this was just his personal speculation. So I dismissed it as ridiculous earlier, but after thinking about it and reading some local guys takes of it, it actually would make a bit of sense. The jist of the deal is this: the Phillies would send Cliff Lee somewhere for a package of prospects the Blue Jays like, and they'd in turn send those guys to Toronto for Halladay. Both Lee and Halladay are free agents next winter. Halladay has apparently said that he almost certainly wants an extension worked out with his new team before being traded, and also that Philadelphia is his top destination. The Phillies met with Lee's representatives last week and it sounds like no progress was made, and that Lee might want to test free agency next year. So, while doing this trade might sound counterproductive on the surface, it would insure that the Phillies have a true ace locked up beyond this coming season should Lee not come to an agreement and leave in free agency. Obviously, my dream scenario is that the Phillies can keep Lee around and still trade for Halladay (and obviously keep him here long term), but if all else fails I'd be for this. I have thought from the time we traded for Lee that he'd want to test free agency when he got there. It will be tough to sell this to all the feeble-minded fans and media in this town, but it does make a bit of sense.

This is getting truly and utterly ridiculous. What the hell gives, seriously?

The Sixers are playing a good team and have it close with a few minutes left. Where have I seen this before? This script plays itself out the same way every time, Houston fans have nothing to worry about. Hopefully I can come back on here and eat my words in a few minutes.

Ed Wade tried trading Ryan Howard to Pittsburgh for Kip Wells. Almost as bad as that one.

Because Ruben Amaro has said that they probably aren't trying to make a big move. But he is bluffing like he always does, and almost everybody knows it. ESPN just hasn't caught on.

Werth is gone one way or the other.

I was thinking that too, but they are not winning the games I don't go to either. But with that said, I am on a 9 game losing streak with the Flyers and Sixers. I have been getting hate messages on facebook.

Phillies do not have the money, either (at least I don't see where it's coming from). They have said their budget is $140 million, and they are pretty much there now, and they STILL have to sign some pieces to fill out the bullpen and perhaps a bottom-of-the-rotation starter. Plus they have a TON of guys in line for new deals and major raises in the next few years (Ryan Howard, Cliff Lee, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels, Carlos Ruiz, Joe Blanton). It is already looking like they have no chance to keep Howard and Werth long term, possibly other guys from that list. Where this money for a new Halladay contract comes from, I have no idea. I think that some people (mainly the clueless sports radio guys in Philadelphia) assume that because there is no salary cap in baseball, and because the Phillies have been so successful, that they just have an endless supply of money. It just isn't true. Also, the Phillies farm system was recently rated fourth in all of baseball by Baseball America. Fourth best!!! Obviously everyone knows how loaded the MLB team is right now, but with the way they have drafted and developed their young guys they could honestly keep this run up for a long time. I do not want to sacrifice that for just one year of Roy Halladay, which is why for obvious reasons they'd need to have an extension worked out before trading for him (if that can even happen financially).

I am pretty much numb to these rumors by now, I have been hearing them since July. And Universe, the Phillies are so protective of their young guys that I see no way Amaro pulls the trigger on anything with Halladay unless an extension is on the table beforehand.

Well, I agree with that. I have said the same thing with the Phillies. If they trade for him, there better be an extension signed before the trade is completed.

I don't think any of the Philly fans on here actually live in Philly.

This is so [expletive]ing frustrating. I feel bad for John Stevens since clearly this team's problems go far beyond the coach. I just don't know what the next move is, or what to do when they "hit the panic button" (which is likely on the verge of happening). There is way too much talent (and young talent, at that) on this team for them to be playing this poorly. The top two lines have basically disappeared over the past month with the exception of Tuesday's game vs. the Islanders. Brian Boucher and Ray Emery (well, when playing healthy) have been great. Flyers teams of the past decade would have killed for goaltending this good, and now they just can't score any goals. I never thought I'd say it but the Flyers have been boring the hell out of me. Even at their worst, they are usually at least mildly entertaining, but their brand of hockey this year is just flat out horrible, it's like watching paint dry. Where the hell have all our forwards gone? Also, Chris Pronger has been a major disappointment, at least in my book. Very slow and very indecisive. Braydon Coburn has been horrible all year. Sorry for the rant, but it is almost time to hit the proverbial panic button.

From what I have heard, he does not want to go west long term. Maybe he would accept a deal there and pitch out his current contract, but I believe his goal is to get a long term deal with one of the east coast teams. And kingfish, this is arguably the best pitcher of this generation. It is going to cost a little bit to get him.

http://www.flashpointsocialmedia.com/Area51/Orion/Images/o_rly.jpg

Don't forget Primoz Brezec.

You are right, it does look like gold considering they can pretty much pay for his salary with all the money they brought in on Monday night. You do realize that's the only reason they signed him, right? It has nothing to do with basketball.

He does not want to go there. Maybe he'd accept a trade to go there for this year but I don't think he wants to pitch there long term.

Hmm when have I seen this before

Well, you don't need to convince any of us, we all know how bad he is. And there is a reason the Sixers haven't done anything. A. He is Stefanski's butt buddy and B. they already have multiple coaches still on the books.

Easy with the personal attacks.

Back to the building being half empty. Oh well, it was cool for one game I guess.

Two years in a row? I dunno, I'll have to see it to believe it.