Matt Holliday has seemingly been on the trading block since the A's acquired him, and now recently Roy Halladay has been put on the block. Which one gets traded first?
Matt Holliday is a free agent this year and has largely been kinda blah since leaving Colorado. However, if we put any stock into adjusted stats, Holliday was still impressive on Colorado posting a 150 OPS+ in 2007 and 140 in 2008. This year he is at 114, which although hardly spectacular is still quite good. He has a higher wOBA than Carlos Lee, and I don't see anyone talking about how disappointing he has been this year. Bottom line, Matt Holliday is still a great hitter inside or outside Coors, and would be an upgrade for almost any team in need of a bat. Those teams include: Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, San Fransisco Giants.
Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball. His placement on the trading block has been the biggest story in baseball recently, and everytime it's mentioned Halladay is called "one of the best" pitchers in the game. I think we can officially just call Halladay the best. Without adjusting for any context, Halladay's stats are at the top of the league. Once we do adjust for the fact that he pitches in the American League and in the AL East no less, it becomes obvious that he is simply the best pitcher in the game. Halladay is also under contract for next year meaning this isn't a one year rental like the case with Holliday. Teams interested include: Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies.
With no disrespect to Mr. Holliday he just isn't in the same class as Mr. Halladay. Billy Beane also loves to draft, so it would take a lot to convince Beane to give up those 2 future draft picks. Of course it will take a lot to get Halladay (try major league ready pitching prospect, and another top prospect hopefully a SS) but it's easier to justify that kind of trade when you are getting the best pitcher on the planet.
As of now, I don't think Matt Holliday is going to be traded. Like I said, Beane loves draft picks, and I'm not sure anyone would offer Beane enough to pull the trigger. I do however think Roy Halladay will get traded. I suppose it could be a publicity stunt, but baseball is so bad in Toronto right now that the last thing Riccardi would want to do is tell the public they are trying to trade their best player without actually trading him. The last time a player like this was put on the market (Johan Santana) several teams tried obtaining him, I don't think it will be any different this year.
There are new rumors about St. Louis being interested in Halladay, but I think the Phillies will get him. They have the young pitching (Kyle Drabek) and the middle infield prospects (Jason Donald) to get a deal done. If Cole Hamels was firing on all cylinders maybe this would be a different story, but with him looking shaky and Brett Myers out, and Brett Myers' replacement out, I think the Phillies know they need Halladay to repeat. The Phillies could likely walk their way into another division title, but teams seriously trying to repeat as champions try to do just that, win another World Series. With their current rotation there is no chance the Phillies get by the Dodgers against their lineup, and the Phillies have to know this. Ruben Amaro may not know that Ibanez isn't a defensive upgrade over Pat Burrell, but he has to know that Hamels, Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer, J.A. Happ, and Rodrigo Lopez can't front a World Series winning team.
If St. Louis decides to give up Brett Wallace it may be a deal the Blue Jays can't turn down, but as of now I think Halladay lands on the Phillies and sooner rather than later while Holliday stays home. The Dodgers have been the clear favorites for a long time in the National League, but imagine a rotation of Halladay and Hamels in the playoffs? Those odds might have to change. H&H Bagles should start thinking about opening up a store in Philly soon, because the possibilities are endless there, I can just see it now: "H&H Put Up Another 'Bagel-Sized' Hole in the Dodgers Lineup!", "Halladay and Hamels Spread on the Cheese En Route to Series Win".
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