MLB Blockbuster Off-SeasonIn one of the most fascinating days in baseball offseason history, for the first time in history, two Cy Young award winners were traded on the same day. And while Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee weren’t technically part of the same trade, it will always be thought of that way because one lead directly to the other.
And what a decision it was. One team became a playoff contender, one team replenished their system and one got baseball’s best pitcher.
And all three won.
While everyone is trying to analyze the trade and figure out the winner and loser, the truth is all three teams did exactly what they needed to do. And here’s why:
What Philadelphia Received: RHP Roy Halladay, RHP Phillippe Aumont, OF Tyson Gilles, RHP Juan Ramirez, $6 million cash
What Philadelphia Traded: LHP Cliff Lee, RHP Kyle Drabek, OF Michael Taylor, C Travis d’Arnaud
Philadelphia’s side is the most controversial, and from a talent perspective, it is debatable whether the organization has more talent today than yesterday. But there are three reasons why this trade makes sense for the Phillies organization.
The first is you would you rather have one year of Cliff Lee or four years of Roy Halladay? They tried to sign Lee, but believed that he was going to test the market. Halladay was willing to sign an extension, and while $20 million per year for a pitcher that has pitched in over 2,000 innings in his career is a slight risk, it's worth the reward of having one of the best pitchers in baseball to help anchor the staff.
The second is you don’t want to be the Tigers and gut a minor league system without replenishing it some. They didn’t get the same prospects in return, but it is close.
Aumont is the prize. The entire world simultaneously said “Wow” when the No. 11 pick in the 2007 was pitching for the Canadian team during the World Baseball Classic. Aumont got out of a bases-loaded, no one out jam unscathed by getting out three Major League all stars -- David Wright on an infield pop-up, and swinging strike outs of Kevin Youkilis and Curtis Granderson on filthy curveballs.
That said, the 6-foot-7 Aumont was moved to a relief pitcher in Seattle. The decision apparently wasn’t because of his rumored degenerative hip condition, but rather it was where the Mariners thought he fit best. As a relief pitcher, he may turn into an all-star closer, but he must be converted back to a starter successfully if he will anchor this trade.
Ramirez is a guy I saw when he was in single A for Everett back in 2007, and while his stats look mediocre (3-7, 4.30 ERA), he was clearly the best player on the diamond every time he was out there. His fastball is nothing short of electric and he is said to have improved his off-speed pitches, but scouts question if his slim build can handle the starting role. If he can, he may be the steal of this trade.
Gilles is speedster who many project as a borderline starter or fourth outfielder, with a good eye of the strike zone and base running abilities, but little to no power.
And the third?
He’s Roy Halladay.
That seems to get lost. Halladay is arguably the game’s best pitcher. Philly fans who don’t see him on a regular basis are in for a real treat. He starts the season as the favorite for the NL Cy Young. He is that good.
And that’s enough to make it worth it for Philadelphia.
What Seattle Received: LHP Cliff Lee
What Seattle Traded: RHP Phillippe Aumont, RHP Juan Ramirez, OF Tyson Gilles
Why does this makes sense? Because it is a “Duh” trade. Of course it makes sense. The Mariners have now boast the best 1-2 pitching combo in baseball. That’s right, Felix Hernandez-Cliff Lee is better than Halladay-Hamels, Sabathia-Burnett, Webb-Haren, Beckett-Lackey/Lester, Lincecum-Cain or any other top two combination.
The team still has a lot of offensive woes. The best power hitter on the roster right now is second basemen Jose Lopez. That’s not good. But the addition of Lee and Chone Figgins in concert with Angels losses of John Lackey, Vladimir Guerrero and Figgins put the Mariners right in the discussion of the AL West’s best teams.
And they did all this without giving up a major league player, and somehow kept most of their top prospects. They did give up two good arms and a decent position prospect, but kept pitcher Brandon Morrow, catcher Adam Moore, infielder Carlos Triunfel and oufielder Greg Halman.
So after the former Mariner regime gave up one of the game’s best young outfielders (Adam Jones), a top 15 prospect (pitcher Chris Tillman), an all-star reliever (George Sherrill) and two solid prospects (pitchers Tony Butler and Kam Mickolio) for Erik Bedard two years ago, current GM Jack Zduriencik got a better pitcher for 1/10 the price.
The risk: Lee is a free agent after this year, and all indications is he will test the free agent market and might demand a C.C. Sabathia-type deal. But even if he does, he will almost certainly be a Type A free agent and the Mariners will get two first round picks in return.
And, of course, it’s possible Lee likes his time and decides to give a discount.
But even if he doesn’t, a move like this may prove to King Felix that they are committed to winning and keep him beyond his contract.
What Toronto Received: RHP Kyle Drabek, C Travis d’Arnaud, 1B/3B Brett Wallace (traded from Oakland for OF Michael Taylor)
What Toronto Traded: RHP Roy Halladay, $6 million
The Blue Jays needed to make this trade. Philadelphia is where Halladay wanted to go the entire time, which can hamper the bargaining position, but Toronto still got three really good prospects out of it. Drabek and Aumont may have been considered a similar talent going into last year, but while Aumont became a reliever, Drabek had a coming out year and is now considered the type of prospect that can be one of the core anchors of a farm system and a possible future No. 2 starter.
Wallace and d’Arnaud both are very nice additions and should be ranked in the team’s top 10 prospects. Wallace is a pure hitter in the Billy Beane mold – not a great fielder, not a great body. But he can just hit. Teams are always looking for catchers who have major league talent, and d’Arnaud should at least be a backup in MLB, if not a starter.
In the end, Drabek alone may be worth the two non-top 10 first round picks they would have gotten for Halladay and Wallace and d’Arnaud are just icing.
