Posted on 12/16/2009 12:23:06 PM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard
It isn't just a trade. It's a foray into the history books.
How often in life do you ever see a trade like this -- two Cy Youngs in their prime changing teams in, essentially, the same deal? When you get right down to it, it's Roy Halladay for Cliff Lee, with a supporting cast that looks like the roster for the Futures Game.
You just don't see trades like this one, ladies and gentlemen. It isn't exactly Wes Littleton for Beau Vaughan, now is it?
"I can remember a lot of blockbuster trades, and this is definitely a blockbuster," said one longtime baseball executive Tuesday, as the shock waves from the mind-blowing four-team, nine-player Lee/Halladay mega-whopper began rippling through his sport. "I can remember big trades in the past. But it's been awhile since we've seen anything like this."
A while? Sheez, you could make a case we've never seen a trade like this.
We spent part of our day perusing pretty much every trade in history that involved a Cy Young Award winner. We couldn't find any deal that resembled this deal. And that's because no Cy Young winner has ever been traded for another Cy Young winner. Ever.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Hell of a trade. Good move for the Phils and the Mariners. The Phils have been stacked for a couple of years now, and Halladay is an upgrade on Lee. They’re a powerhouse from top to bottom. The Mets are toast.
Drabek looks like a good guy for the Jays, but he can’t replace Halladay. Don’t know much about Wallace or the catcher.
SnakeDoc
If I was Philly I would keep Lee - along with Halladay that is the best 1-2 rotation currently in baseball, and the best since at least Johnson/Schilling. Maybe since Drysdale/Kofax? With the Phil’s offense they could probably win as many as what, maybe 5 World Series over the next 7 or 8 years? I mean REALLY dominant. That is worth emptying the farm for, a generational opportunity to dominate. You win World Series, the money looks after itself.
Given Seattle’s involvement, I’m surprised Phillippe Aumont didn’t end up going to the Jays. Aumont is Canadian, and has sick stuff. I saw him in the WBC playing for Canada, looks like a can’t miss. Kind of like the second coming of Eric Gagne.
I don’t even remember who the Indians got for Lee — certainly not anything close to what the Jays got for Halladay, or what the Phils got for Lee.
But — I’m an Astros fan. We’ll be happy if Oswalt remembers how to pitch, and Berkman finds his swing again.
SnakeDoc
Halladay is less of an upgrade on Lee than you might think. What was Lee in the World Series, 2-0? Halladay would not be able to improve on that - Philly lost in spite of Lee, not because of Lee. Replacing Lee with Halladay does not get the Phils any closer to knocking out the Evil Empire. To be #1, Philly needs Doc AND Lee.
Unfotunate that the Phils didn’t think knocking out DeathStar1 was that important.
So is Gilles. Who also is a heck of a story. The kid runs sprints in and out from left field. Hustles every where. He's also deaf.
We watched him last year in Spring training and every one in the park said he stole the show that day from Griffey. I hope the kid gets a chance soon in Philly.
4-years of Halladay is a substantial improvement on 1-year of Lee. The Phils will have Halladay until 2014. Lee would’ve been a free agent next year, and they very well may have lost a bidding war to keep him.
SnakeDoc
Exactly right. And Halladay kept his demands reasonable for the opportunity to play with the Phillies, who train 15 minutes from his full-time home in Florida.
The trade wasn’t about improving on Lee’s playoff performance, which was extraordinary. It was about getting a long-term ace and replenishing the farm. As much as I would have loved to see Halladay and Lee together, I think the Phils did really, really well in this deal.
I suppose if the Jays want to help the Mariners dump Canadian talent they can always sign Erik Bedard, apparently he’s looking for work.
Does sick mean good or bad?
In pitching, “sick” is good.
“Nasty” is really good.
“Filthy” is ridiculously good.
Phillippe Aumont’s stuff is sick now. In a few years, his junk could be really filthy.
It’s a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. :)
I grew up in Vancouver<BC idolizing the M’s..even until now.
I went to Seattle just to watch Griff and the Refuse to Lose’ gang kill the Yanks in the 90’s. Nowadays, the new GM Jack Z is a superior upgrade to the last GM Bavasi, and truly amazed how he got Chone Figgins from the Angels and now, Cliff Lee to Seattle. Good times. I’ll pay top $$ when they head here to Socal..
Well he hasn't played baseball (ahem) since arriving in Seattle....
I'm sorry to see Cliff Lee go, but I suppose even a major-market team like Philadelphia can't afford 2 pitchers of that stature.
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