HALLADAY TRADE WILL NOT IMPROVE PHILLIES

On Monday, the news broke that the two-time defending National League champions, Philadelphia Phillies, were about to pull off a trade for Blue Jays ace, Roy Halladay. When I first heard the news, I figured you could just hand the Phillies the 2010 World Series crown now. Along with the NL's best offense by a mile, Halladay-Cliff Lee-Cole Hamels would be an almost unbeatable top 3 in their rotation.

But then I heard the complete breakdown of the deal. Cliff Lee was going to Seattle (how sick are they going to be with Felix Hernandez and Lee as their 1,2?) as part of a three-way agreement between the Phillies, Blue Jays and Mariners. Now I had to wonder if the Phillies were really an improved team with Halladay over Lee. I understand why this makes sense from a management position as the Phillies will have Halladay the next four years opposed to running the risk of only having Lee for 2010. The move also keeps Halladay from being traded to the division rival Mets in a lesser, desperate move by the Jays brass. However, while this may be a good economic/strategic move, it is certainly not a game changing on the field move.

By dumping Lee, the Phillies lose the pitcher who was untouchable down the stretch and in the postseason. Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in the playoffs. Is there any guarantee Halladay will be as good as that? I can't dispute Halladay has had the better career, but he has never pitched a big game in his life. In fact, Halladay struggled in mid-season when he admittedly felt the pressure from all the trade talk circulating around him. He has been a Yankee and Red Sox killer, but is there any pressure in pitching against them when you are 10-20 games behind them in August? Lee on the other hand fit in with the Phillies winning culture right away. He was unbelievable. Halladay will be an ace, but it will be hard pressed for him to be better than Lee in the big spot. He will have to better Lee's complete-game, 10 strikeout performance if the Phillies make it back to the World Series.

With all that said, I do think Halladay will be a slightly better in the regular season. But even if you think he will be much better, the Phillies will still have the same question marks they did before this move went down. They need Cole Hamels to revert back to his 2008 self. If this doesn't happen, the Phillies will continue to have a serious lack of depth in their rotation. If Hamels doesn't bounce back, who else can they count on? Maybe J.A. Happ, but they won't get much from Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer or even Pedro Martinez. They also haven't done anything to sure up their bullpen. If they don't, they will have to pray Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson revert back to their 2008 selves. Halladay doesn't solve those issues.

In my opinion, they are the same team today that they were a week ago, but without the assurance their ace will be a stud postseason performer. I wasn't opposed to them getting Halladay and signing him to an extension for some security, but why couldn't they keep Lee for 2010 too? Lee is set to only make $9 million next season. That's an absolute steal and with the team they have, they should have made a run with those two aces together. Then if Lee left for a bigger contract somewhere else after 2010 then so be it. So those who think the Phillies made a great move here, think again.

Pat Morgan