mozartpc27 wrote:Lee is also younger with a more favorable contract, lest we forget.

FTN wrote:

Which brings us back to Halladay. We are now in the ‘Phony War’ stage of what could be his final days with the Blue Jays. ESPN’s Jayson Stark used to work for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and I know who his sources are, so if he says the Philadelphia Phillies said no to a package of pitchers J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek and outfielder Dominic Brown for Halladay – and that the Blue Jays quite properly waved off the Phillies’ counteroffer of Happ, outfield prospect Michael Taylor, pitcher Carlos Carrasco and shortstop Jason Donald – we can all take it as gospel.

What’s also true is that enough groundwork has been done that general manager J.P. Ricciardi’s so-called deadline tomorrow to trade Halladay is not carved in stone. He would make an exception for the Phillies. They are Halladay’s preferred location because their spring training site is close to his Palm Harbor, Fla., home – just like the Blue Jays’ Dunedin facility.

(Although after Saturday’s murder of a fan outside a restaurant in Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Ballpark as a result of an eighth-inning brawl, I could think of other places a guy might want to play)

So the real deadline for the Phillies remains Friday, and in the meantime, the Blue Jays lose nothing by waiting.

- Blair

Anaheim Angels: An official of a third team says he was told Toronto asked the Angels for pitcher Joe Saunders, shortstop Erick Aybar, third baseman Brandon Webb and outfield prospect Peter Bourjos. But an official of one club that has been in touch with the Angels said there is no scenario in which the Angels would "create a gaping hole" on their big league club to make a trade for Halladay or anyone else.

Texas Rangers: The Jays and Rangers exchanged names over the last 72 hours. But Texas is balking both at giving up the high-end prospects it's been asked for and at paying all of the approximately $22 million left on Halladay's contract. The Rangers have asked Toronto to eat part of that money. But officials of two teams that have talked to the Blue Jays say that's not happening. "They're not taking any money," one of those officials said. "That's one of the reasons they're trading him."

Los Angeles Dodgers: Toronto also gave the Dodgers an updated list of names it would take over the weekend. But while the Dodgers haven't backed out completely, they appear to be more focused on bullpen upgrades (a la George Sherrill) at this point.

Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays: The Blue Jays have given both teams an idea of what it would take. But while they haven't ruled it out, trading Halladay within the division is still an option of last resort for the Blue Jays.

So a trade with the Phillies still "makes the most sense," according to an executive of one team that has been involved in the Halladay talks, because "they're the right fit, they have the most pieces and they have the most motivation to go get this guy." But whereas 48 hours ago those two teams appeared to be building momentum toward a deal, now one source describes talks between the two as "deteriorating."

On Saturday, the Phillies made a counter-proposal that would have sent Happ and the Phillies' three top Triple-A prospects -- pitcher Carlos Carrasco, outfielder Michael Taylor and shortstop Jason Donald -- to Toronto. But the Blue Jays quickly rejected that package.

Now each side appears to be waiting for the other to get the talks moving again. One source said discussions continue to revolve around the same list of "seven or eight names" the two clubs have talked about from the beginning.

Those names include all the players above, plus catching prospect Lou Marson and hard-throwing Class A pitcher Jason Knapp, who is now believed to be back in the potential mix even though he was recently placed on the disabled list, as a "precaution," with shoulder fatigue.

This logjam in these talks comes only a day before the Blue Jay' "deadline" of Tuesday to finish a trade for Halladay. But multiple sources say Toronto has sent word it's willing to back off that deadline if it's making any progress toward a deal.

"There's no real fixed deadline," said one of those sources. "It's more of a goal. If there's a deal out there, how could you all of a sudden just stop talking about it? That doesn't make sense."

What does seem to make sense is for the Blue Jays and Phillies to eventually settle on a deal for Halladay that works for both of them. But as another day ticked off the trading calendar, that deal seemed anything but imminent Monday afternoon.

JFLNYC wrote:And Happ.

FTN wrote:as palatable as that seems, i dont think we get halladay without giving up drabek.

FTN wrote:If we take that deal now, should it still be there, it hurts Rube in future negotiations because it showed he caved. Thats the one negative of these very public, high profile deals