The Yankees and Red Sox were both informed early that the Jays would look elsewhere first, and the Jays have stuck to that by not yet following up on an original call with the Yankees. For the first time, Ricciardi explained his stance on dealing the superstar inside the division. "We're not averse to doing it,'' Ricciardi said by phone. "(But) it's something that would obviously have to be a good return back.'' The Yankees understand they'd have to surrender one of two top young pitchers, Joba Chamberlain or new eighth-inning star Phil Hughes, plus some names from a high-end prospect list that would likely include outfielder Austin Jackson and one of two catchers, Jesus Montero or Francisco Cervelli. There is a belief that while the Yankees have to pay a premium, and one person familiar with their thinking said they badly don't want to "gut their system,'' they still have requested of Toronto a right to match (or in this case beat) the best offer when the deal's about to go down. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_heyman/07/19/scoop.monday/index.html?eref=T1 Sounds very familiar and Teixiera comes immediately to mind.
Come on man. You make this argument after a game where Joba shows why it's the right thing to do to have him in the rotation? Hughes is better than Joba. He belongs in the rotation. Wow, I love how everyone laughed at me when I said Joba OR Hughes and some top-end prospects. Now as far as a deal, I'd give them Joba, Cervelli, and a package. I don't know if I want to sacrifice Jackson though. If it meant keeping Halladay out of Boston, I'd be more apt to sacrifice him, but if he's headed for the NL, or pretty much anyone but Boston and LAA, I'd probably let him go.
And why on earth would Toronto accept that deal, especially if neither Jackson nor Montero is in it? Come on, man... if you expect to pull potentially the best pitcher in the game away from a division rival, there will be pain involved. And a lot of it. For the Yanks to get Halladay, you're going to be looking at Hughes/Joba, Montero, Jackson, McAllister, and one or two more... and realistically, I wouldn't be surprised if it was Hughes AND Joba, regardless of what SI says. Which means it likely doesn't get done. Which should surprise no one.
Well, obviously if it's Joba AND Hughes, even the Sox can have him. That's far too high a price. I didn't say I wouldn't give them Jackson (I'd give them Montero, though I'd prefer to give up Cervelli if they'd be willing to take him, especially if we're giving Jackson.) I'm not looking for a miracle deal. I'm only saying that you kill the farm if, and only if, it means keeping him out of the hands of the two teams that are already too hard to beat. Halladay on any team but Boston and the Angels is a non-threat, and not worth the outlay that has to be made. And I don't think there's any way the Yankees can get him. The asking price is really high even if it were in my "willing to pay" range. I doubt Cashman is going to drain the farm that he's put a lot of effort into cultivating for one more high-priced star. Not to mention that this is surely a situation where this deal doesn't happen without a new contract. Can we really afford another CC salary in the rotation? Of course I could always dream that the deal gets done to another team without a contract, leaving him open to free agency after next year and we get him then. (Hey, it worked for Teixeira!)
