ek wrote:stark seems to think it's going to take a long time before anything happens

Trent Steele wrote:

ek wrote:stark seems to think it's going to take a long time before anything happens

trust me ek, stark is an idiot that has no understanding of things like leverage, negotiating, or strategy

Grotewold wrote:Reports have Roy at Bambergers and Clover

INDIANAPOLIS — So, who is leading the Roy Halladay sweepstakes?

There isn’t any scoreboard in the lobby here at baseball’s winter meetings.

It’s not like arriving in the third inning at the Rogers Centre and sneaking a quick peak at the centre-field auxiliary board to catch up.

As the annual winter meetings in Indiana closed, a recap showed that the Los Angeles Angels led the hunt for two days, the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies one day apiece.

Publicly, here is what Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro was saying after the Rule V draft yesterday morning, when asked if there was any chance for a big-time move: “I don’t think there’s any likeliness. There’s nothing likely. How about that?”

Privately, the Phillies offered lefty J.A. Happ, 27 (12-4, 2.93) plus either minor-league outfielder Dominic Brown, 21 (.299, 14 homers and 64 RBIs at class-A Clearwater and double-A Reading) or Michael Taylor, 24 this month, (.320, 20, 84 at Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley), according to FOXSports.com.

The Phillies had at least one meeting with Jays rookie GM Alex Anthopoulos. To add Halladay’s $15.75-million US salary, as we have mentioned, the Phillies will have to move payroll. Moving Joe Blanton (he’ll earn roughly $7 million in salary arbitration), won’t be a problem, but shipping Jamie Moyer ($6.5 million) some where will be.

Publicly, the New York Yankees say that they are looking for a fourth starter, now that they have re-signed lefty Andy Petttitte.

With CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Pettitte, are the Yanks looking for an actual No. 4 starter, or a fourth ace to steamroll the rest of the American League?

The Yanks’ game plan a year ago was to wrap up the best two starters on the market in Sabathia and Burnett. Once that was accomplished, they went for the throat, signing free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Will they do so again with Halladay?

Besides Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, the Jays want prized hitting prospect Jesus Montero.

Having moved centre fielder Austin Jackson as part of the Curtis Granderson deal, would Yanks GM Cashman part with more youth.

“It’s dependent on the player I would be getting,” Cashman said. “I would in the right circumstance.”

Publicly, Angels GM Tony Reagins says it is “highly unlikely” that shortstop Erik Aybar will be moved in any deal.

Privately, the Angels have mentioned lefty Joe Saunders, minor-leaguer outfielder Peter Bourjos and Aybar in talks to obtain Halladay. The Jays could deal Saunders for more prospects.

Given a choice

And if Aybar were acquired by the Jays, recently signed free-agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez would be dealt. Under the Basic Agreement, a free agent joining a new team can’t be dealt before June 15. However, an industry expert said that if a player had a choice between sitting on the bench with one team or starting on another, he’d sign a waiver and approve a deal.

The problem for manager Mike Scioscia’s Angels is that if Aybar is dealt, who plays second? The Angels are looking for a defensive upgrade on Howie Kendrick at second. They don’t see natural shortstop-turned-third-baseman Brandon Wood as the answer at short, which means Maicer Izturis would have to remain at short and he has never started more than 50 games there in a season or more than 91 games total.

Reagins, however, said “something big” could happen within the next 10 days.

It’s understandable for GMs to play their cards close to the vest with so much at stake with an asset like Halladay.

Show too much interest and another team beats you to the prize. Lay in the weeds too long and Halladay will be gone.

It’s a high-game stakes of poker. And Anthopoulos has kept his cards inside his vest.

Trent Steele wrote:

It’s a high-game stakes of poker. And Anthopoulos has kept his cards inside his vest.

Werthless wrote:

Trent Steele wrote:

It’s a high-game stakes of poker. And Anthopoulos has kept his cards inside his vest.

Doesn't sound like an experienced player, hiding his cards in his clothes.

ek wrote:ok so all the money clearing is going to be done after this trade I am assuming

Werthless wrote:So you agree with ek? Actually, I do too. You'd rather lose a tiny bit of leverage dealing away Blanton than dealing for Halladay.

Trent Steele wrote:
Publicly, here is what Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro was saying after the Rule V draft yesterday morning, when asked if there was any chance for a big-time move: “I don’t think there’s any likeliness. There’s nothing likely. How about that?”

kimbatiste wrote:It's amazing how decidedly against trading for Roy the other board is. I can understand the reasons against, especially if it forces you to dump JoeBla, but some of the statements there are pretty over the top.