For several years, the Jays have become immune to being an average team. In the big-bad AL East, competing against high-spending clubs like the Yankees and Red Sox, it's hard to blame them. They have been a consistent .500 club in a division where that just won't cut it. And while other teams are getting better, the Jays don't have the resources to keep up.
As soon as Anthopoulos stepped into his new role in October, it was obvious the team was taking a new approach. Although the rookie GM is really hush-hush about trades and free-agency, he recognized immediately that the Jays will focus on re-building around their young core, moving some of the larger contracts and veteran players to free up cap space, add prospects and acquire future draft picks.
Recently, Jays president Paul Beeston told the papers that Halladay is "not inclined" to re-sign with the team stating his goal to participate in the playoffs as the reason. The team president also reiterated that a trade is imminent. He announced that teams will be given a period to negotiate a new contract with the former Cy Young Award winner if a deal is reached. In a deal like this, because Halladay has only one year left on his contract, to garner a substantial return, the Jays need to give teams that option. It makes a huge difference. Because Halladay is one of baseball's best, it only makes sense to demand a high return in any deal.
Although he ended up staying put, Halladay was the center of rumours at the trade deadline this past season. The Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers were in hot-pursuit of Halladay. All eventually deciding that the asking price of former Jays GM J.P. Riccardi was too high. Another train of thought is that Riccardi may have been bluffing. His job was in jeopardy at the time, and it may have been the reason he was complacent in getting a deal done. Now that Riccardi is out of the picture, and the direction of the team has shifted, you can be sure Halladay will be moved.
So where is he going to land and what can the Jays get in return? With the Winter Meetings coming up in December, Anthopoulos is going to be busy. Already, rumours have been swirling and the usual suspects have been talking to the Jays about Halladay. The Red Sox, Phillies, Dodgers, Cubs and Angels have all already contacted the Jays about their ace.
It came out yesterday that the Red Sox have boosted their efforts and set a December 7th deadline to complete a deal for Halladay. According to the rumour, the Jays are seeking a package headed by top prospects Clay Bucholz and Casey Kelly. Two highly touted pitchers; Kelly also plays shortstop. The rumour sparks an interesting topic: whether or not the Jays should trade within the division (regardless of the return). Part of the reason there is a need to start fresh is the dominance of divisional opponents. Not to mention that it gives the fans another reason to resent team management. It may not be the best idea.
The club should consider moving Halladay to the National League, where it'll be easier to forget about him. The other trade candidates have some interesting prospects that could better suit the team's needs. Over the weekend, another rumour had the Jays contacting the Chicago Cubs to discuss the availability of Halladay. The Jays are very high on Cubs' shortstop prospect, Starlin Castro. Jays' management has also been in contact with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The asking price is a package led by starting pitcher Chad Billingsley. There are a lot of interesting options and Anthopoulos should be in no rush to make a move with the Winter Meetings just around the corner. You must assume as time goes by, interest will grow and teams will become desperate to make a big splash.
Anthopoulos faces a big test this off-seasons and in the years to come. He will face adversity as the franchise changes direction. The responsibility of moving a player of Halladay's calibre is no small task. The moves he makes and the direction of the franchise will make or break his career as a general manager in the big leagues. All eyes will be on the rookie GM as he makes his mark on the club.
It's always hard to make a move like this. Roy Halladay is an icon in Toronto and the best pitcher to play north of the border since Roger Clemens. He will be sorely missed and it will take fans time to swallow the loss. But the reality is that all teams go through this. If you can't compete and don't have the resources to do so, you must take action and make the necessary changes to build towards the future. If everything goes right, the Jays will do just that and the loss of Halladay will be a thing of the past.
by: Jesse Neary
