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Word on the street is that Roy Halladay has officially told the Blue Jays that he won't be resigning with the team after the season. What affect does this have on the likelihood of him getting traded this offseason? Some, but not a ton. The Blue Jays had to know that they weren't going to resign him, so this just solidifies their previous beliefs. The Jays new GM is granting a negotiating window for an extension to all interested teams, which should increase his value. The required package from the Phillies will most likely including J.A. Happ and Dominic Brown/Michael Taylor at the least. Is that too much to give up? I don't think so, not for Doc Halladay who's one of the premier pitchers in the game and definitely the best available.
However, there's always the chance that we're outbid and/or the asking price is astronomical (cough, J.P. Ricciardi, cough). So, if not Roy, then who? Option one is Edwin Jackson from Detroit. Jackson had a great season this year and showed a lot of the promise that the Rays never saw from their former sixth round draft pick. He would definitely be cheaper, but then again he's not nearly as good as the Doc.
Another guy, albeit a long shot, is Roy Oswalt. He seems to be a fringe trade market guy every year and this could be the year he gets moved. He would command a package similar to Halladay's and has an extra year on his deal after this one. Roy is a certified ace and has been toiling away in Houston for a few years. He has a full no-trade, but pitching for a title contender like Philly would have to peak his interest.
Finally, a darkhorse of my own, Gil Meche. Gil was a marginal pitcher in Seattle until he hit free agency and he got an indefensible $48 million from the Royals. Then something funny happened, and he was actually a pretty good pitcher for them. Meche never set the league on fire, but he was consistent and productive. With a move to the NL, Meche could be a solid, yet unspectactular number three guy in the rotation.
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