Long Live Frank Fixaris!

Do what it takes to get Halladay.

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No way Toronto deals him in the division....unless Theo has something on Ricciardi.

I disagree. If Theo blows him away with a deal, say Buchholz, Bowden and Anderson, I think Ricciardi definitely listens. I don't see Theo emptying the system for Halladay, but I don't think the Red Sox can be ruled out as a potential trade partner either.

Ricciardi has to realize that there are very few teams in baseball that can afford to take on a salary like Halladay's (he's still owed roughly $20 million through next season and will probably insist on an extension to waive his no-trade) and two of them reside in the AL East. And when you combine the list of teams with that payroll flexibility with the list of teams with good enough prospects to package together, I think those two AL East teams stand out even more, especially the Sox.

I think it's a pipe-dream to think the Sox will pull off such a trade, but I think the reasons for it being such a long shot are actually more on the Red Sox side than the Jays. How many times have we seen the Sox actually pull the trigger on a deal involving a top prospect since Theo's been at the helm? Once, if you want to count the trade made while he was on his "sabbatical"? Twice if you want to stretch and call a guy like Freddy Sanchez a "top" prospect. Theo's more apt to roll the dice on Buchholz and Bowden being top-flight starters than to overpay for a proven top-flight starter.

Redhawk is probably right but the Sox have as many prospects to offer as anyone.

The Red Sox will never be officially ruled out of the running, because JP can use the Red Sox farm system to hold the Cardinals or Phillies over the barrel. Theo would have to overwhelm JP to land Halladay, and is overwhelming JP worth the cost?

I just don't think you want to trade Halladay to a team you face 20 times a year when you get a similar package from a team you face 6 times every 3 years.

i can see the the yankees doing it. i know they already have huge contracts in jeter, arod, tex, cc, burnett, right down to posada and mo but i also see the pressure to win in nyc this season as so intense that taking on halladay's pay for 2009 isn't that big of a deal. then damon, and matsui come off the books for 2010. the question isn't really the money to me, its who you would give up for a 32 year-old pitcher that is going to cost a ton.

They would have to start with Austin Jackson, and I know the Yankees do not want deal him. Plus they will have to overwhelm Toronto, and have far and away the best package (that's what she said).

If Halladay got to free agency I would say the Yankees would be the favorite to get him but in a trade would it comes to prospects than I would say they are not at the top of the list. Of course halladay could say the Yankees are the only team he wants to go to and if the Jays are set on trading him than they will get it done.

The Yankees have the money, just not the prospects. The Jays would be stupid to take anything less than two A/B pitching prospects at least, and the Yanks have exactly 0 of those. And even then, they have maybe a couple type B/C. And that's just not going to get it done.

I don't think the Sox have enough either, unless we're talking Buchholz, Bowden, Bard and maybe Lars Anderson. And, homerism aside, THAT may not even get it done (as we all tend to overrate our own prospects). And we KNOW Theo would never pull that deal. He barely scoffed at the Santana deal that included Lester. And Lester is too valuable. Buchholz I would throw in, as I would Anderson, and Bowden. But knowing what I know about Papelbon, I would be hesitant to give up Bard who could replace him on the cheap. But you never know with prospects and closers, we said the same of Hansen. And I don't really value closers that much.

What if the Red Sox included Papelbon in the trade? He is under team control until 2011, and although his arb numbers might be high, it would give Toronto a major league ready closer. No one else would be able to do that. Papelbon, Anderson, and an Argenis Diaz-level type?

Difficult to say. Why not keep Halladay through next year, then? I think the Jays, trading Halladay, are saying we're stockpiling for the 2011 season and beyond. Clearly they wouldn't think they could compete until after 2010, and would be looking for a boat load of prospects.

It's difficult to say. But I would be more inclined to think they'd want Bard, and I think the Sox may be happier to include him over Papelbon. Like I said, tough to say.

If it could headline with Bard, Buchholz and Anderson, I say do it. But I am not sure Theo would do that, nor am I sure JP would accept that. But who knows. I sure don't.

I don't think the Jays would want him (they must be comfortable with Downs if they're willing to eat Ryan's contract). I doubt they'll take anything but pre-arb players if they take on any major leaguers at all in the deal. I also don't think the incumbent closer is exactly the major league roster piece a playoff contending team like the Sox should be giving up at deadline time. They've got six (counting DiceK) playoff experienced starters already on the roster. They haven't got more than one reliable closer. No way do they trade the only one of the latter to add a seventh to the former (especially when they don't really need more than four come playoff time).

There isn't really an obvious replacement on the roster right now for Papelbon if they were to deal him. Bard isn't quite ready for that yet (best bet is to groom him as Mariano to Pap's Wetteland), Saito's going Timlin on them, Delcarmen and Ramirez aren't really trust-worthy with the game on the line, Okajima is a fair spot closer but I wouldn't want him every time, and Masterson's too valuable in his current role to restrict to 9th inning only. The Sox need Papelbon more than they need Halladay this season. They no doubt hold on to him until he hits free agency, then let someone else over pay him.

As to the Jays hesitating to trade Halladay in division, the truth of the matter is that by dealing Halladay, they're basically punting this season and next; otherwise, why not keep him? (that's another reason they'd have no interest in Papelbon...even arb-controlled, it's a waste of resources to pay for him if the team's not going anywhere anyway) They're not expecting to contend with the Sox, Yanks, and Rays with Halladay, so allowing him to be added to one of those teams doesn't put them in any worse of a position than they're already in...in fact you could argue they're better off since they've added four or five potentially key pieces for a fraction of the cost of one Halladay.

So they're trading him for a package of players that, if they pan out, will make the team much much better in 2011 and beyond. If it all works out to plan, then when they're ready to make a more serious run at the division in two or three years, they'll have a Clay Buchholz or some other young ace to counter the presence of Halladay on the Sox or Yanks. They'd also be banking on the 2011/2012 Roy Halladay being a lesser pitcher than the 2009 Halladay they're dealing away (and odds are good 35-36 year old Halladay won't be the same fearsome ace that is the 32 year old Halladay).

Anyone else think of Bob Stanley when Justin Masterson comes into the game?

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Live blogging it right now.

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Just saw this today but apparently it was reported two days ago, but the Jays will not allow teams to negotiate a contract extension with Halladay prior to a deal. IMO, this opens the door for at least a few more suitors to offer up the prospects to make a year and a half run without having to cough up a 3, 4 or 5 year extension for money they don't have to spend, and I think there will be another 2008 Brewers club out there who's willing to dump prospects to make such a run--of course you hope to get out of the first round.

Yeah but Halladay would have to improve any trade.

From the tenor of his comments in the media, he will waive the no-trade clause and hope to work out a deal in the next year and a half. I have to wonder if Ricciardi and Halladay had any conversations regarding the issue of pre-trade negotiations as a means to expedite this process and get Halladay on his way.

Live Blog for the Sox and Rangers tonight.

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Live blog- Tuesday Night, July 28th- Sox/A's plus Jim Rice getting his number retired.

Get your drinks ready for Rickey's speech. http://www.easternmainesportsblog.com/2 ... peech.html

Come join the live blog tonight starting around 6pm.


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Sox/Yankees live blog Tonight and Sunday night. Hopefully Sox and Yanks fans will join in.

Live blog, starting right now.

Come join the live blog tonight.

I will try to be there.

Starting the live blog up.

Thanks for those that stopped by last night. Even Jabanga stopped by but I think that was just to let us know the Yankees were winning.

Go see a Soccer game for a great cause.

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