Buzz: Potential Bidding War for Halladay
In a report in today’s Daily News, Anthony McCarren and Bill Madden suggest that a bidding war is on tap between the Yankees and Red Sox for Roy Halladay.
…interesting how the Mets aren’t mentioned at all here, yet i think they have the money and the prospects to get a deal done for Doc, and they were the one’s that swooped in and landed Johan Santana two years ago over these two clubs…not that one has anything to do with the other, but it’s possible that the Mets are quietly pursuing Doc at the moment…
McCarren and Madden believe that for the Yankees to acquire Halladay, the centerpiece of the deal would have to be Jesus Montero, who scouts believe can hit 40 home runs in the Major Leagues, and would also likely have to part with another prospect such as Austin Jackson and either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain.
…one thing that i do know is the Yankees do an outstanding job at hyping up their prospects…Montero did have a good season for single-A Tampa, but he is just 18 and has a long way to go…
On the flip side, McCarren and Madden wonder if the Yankees would be willing to part with such talent and then sign Halladay to a five year extension in the range that both Johan Santana and CC Sabathia signed for, and potentially be paying both Halladay and Sabathia $46 million when both are over 34 years of age.
…it’s the same reservation i have with the Mets acquiring him…it’s a scary proposition to be paying Halladay the bulk of the contract after age 36…if he would be willing to take a shorter term contract, say in the five year range with an option based on merit, i’d be somewhat more comfortable…
…the one thing that Boston and both New York teams need to consider is this very problem…the question isn’t how he will perform in the next three seasons, it’s how he will perform in the seasons that follow and whether or not he will be effective, let alone productive…when it comes to talent that Doc possesses, i’m not really concerned that he will flame out all of a sudden, but the risk, at that dollar amount, has to be considered for anyone that wants to acquire him…
For more on Halladay and the Red Sox and Yankees, take a look at the Daily News here.
