Baseball Update: Roy Halladay Sweepstakes and More

(Guest posted by 49er16 from Keith's Sports Journal)

The Baseball Update is a look at the happenings around Major League Baseball

Jon Heyman has reported this mourning that the Philadelphia Phillies are the front runners to land Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay.

"The Phillies remain nearly everyone's favorite to land star Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay, and the teams are believed to have advanced to the point where they have discussed several of Philadelphia's top prospects -- including outfielder Michael Taylor, shortstop Jason Donald and pitcher Carlos Carrasco -- although, there's no evidence yet that the Phillies are relenting on top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek.

If Philly agrees to surrender Drabek, one competing executive said, "they might get [Halladay] real quick.''

But two more competing execs warned that they believe the Phillies would have to include Drabek -- a dynamic talent who impressed in the Futures Game -- to have any chance to land Halladay. If they're going to trade Halladay, "they've got to get the Phillies' best prospect,'' one American League exec insisted."

If the Phillies want a chance to compete for the World Series again, then they have to give up Drabek. Halladay is already a proven starter, while you never know what you are going to get with Drabek once he is called up to the majors. The Phillies though are fighting a case of the San Francisco Giants syndrome.

They are having a tough choice about giving up a prized prospect in a trade. The Giants haven't made a trade this season yet for a bat, because they don't want to give away one of their prized pitching prospects. But you have to take a chance. And the Phillies should take this chance on Halladay.

The Giants have also shown interest in Halladay. But they probably would have to give up either Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain. And unlike Drabek, Lincecum and Cain are proven starters. So I don't expect Halladay to land in San Francisco. The Dodgers, Brewers, and Rangers have also shown interest in Halladay. Also the White Sox are in talks with Toronto. Remember earlier this year the White Sox traded for San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy. But Peavy vetoed the trade and remained in San Diego. So Chicago is still looking for a starting pitcher. Also don't count out the Red Sox or Yankees making a deal for Halladay.

More:
- The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to be sellers at the trading deadline. Arizona has fallen way short of expectations this season because of an lack of offensive support. Starting pitchers Doug Davis and Jon Garland are both free agents after the season. So Arizona could possible trade both of them for hitting prospects.

- Both Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez rejected contract offers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. This definitely shows that both players are fed up with the Pirates management. The Pirates are traded away a lot of key players in the past two years and I think this is a sign of defiance to those moves by both Sanchez and Wilson.

- Jason Schmidt will be returning to the Dodgers today to pitch in his first game since 2007. If Schmidt returns to form, you could see the Dodgers pull out of the Halladay sweepstakes.

- Jonathon Sanchez makes his first start for the Giants since throwing his no-hitter. His performance tonight could decide whether or not he will be traded at the deadline. Sanchez struggled for most of the year with his control, basically making him un-tradable. But since throwing the no-hitter teams have said to be interested in Sanchez. And with the Giants unwilling to give up Lincecum, Cain, and Madison Bumgardner, Sanchez will be the pitcher the Giants use as trade bait.

NOTE: JFein is expected to return to America tomorrow. He probably won't be posting until Wednesday because that is long trip and he probably wants to rest an unpack. So you have two more days of James Craven and myself posting here.