New York Nine

Well it seems as though the Jays early season surge was in fact an illusion and Blue Jays are left in a familiar position, fourth place in the AL East looking up at the three best teams in the Junior Circuit (arguably). For sure, after early promise this was not the position Toronto's managment was expecting to be, but at the halfway points its become more clear that this team just won't cut it, they're just not as deep not as talented as the Rays, Sox, and Yankees and something must be done. That something to be done seems to be more dramatic than many expected when Toronto GM JP Riccardi announced he's shopping arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Roy Halladay, but is it for the best? Sure Halladay should command a decent haul, but will they be able to get anywhere near the value he brings or will be it pennies on the dollar? It's a question that cannot be answered yet but if played deftly by Riccardi dealing Halladay might be the smartest thing the Blue Jays have done in years.

Of course when dealing a player of Halladay brings a great deal of risk, after all prospects are no sure bet and even the best ones can flame out, but for the Jays its an opportunity that could pay off big. Consider the Mark Texiera trade, who also had one and a half year left on his contract like Halladay. Traded to the talent rich Altanta Braves, the Braves sent over SS Elvis Andrus, RHP Neftali Perez, LHP Matt Harrison, LHP Beau Jones, and C Jarrod Saltamacchia and its plain to see since then the Rangers have vastly improved for the long term since then. Andrus, now with the major league club has become a conerstone of the Rangers' defense and a surpsing amount of offense, Neftali Perez, now the highest rated pitching prospect in all the land, Saltamacchia has emerged as a productive hitter behind the plate and Matt Harrison who addmittedly has had his bumps in the road, is still only 23 and could soon emerge as a valuable member of the rotation, not a bad huh? Now of course its no guarantee as of yet but such a haul of prospects can literally turn around an organization just as it did with the Rangers. Long a basement dweller for years, Texas has vaunted itself into contention in the AL west a mere two years later and look poised to be a major player for years to come, why not give that a try? Sure its no sure bet, but it seems clear that attempting to compete fielding this team is sure to fall short again.

Of course there are a great deal of people who would be more than happy but where is the best fit is the real question. I think that of course the Red Sox and Yankees have to be involved to raise the stakes, as they both obviously have the money and actually both have the prospects, but I think if they can avoid dealing within the division they should. The Phillies have been prominently mentioned and they too would also be a good fit, big market, money to spend, lots of talented prospects and he's moving to the National League where he'll probably be never hit again so that works for him. They haven't been mentioned but the Dodgers have the money and the pieces to get him and they could desperately need him. They've obviously done well so far, but their starting pitching has been so-so at best, not going deep enough into games and forcing a lot of pressure on their bullpen, adding a guy who averages 230 innings will only make them that much more dangerous.

Its hard selling a fanbase on something like getting rid of your best player for some kids, but its something the Jays just need to do right now. A team that not that long ago was the toast of the town and a prennial winner has become a doormat to the yanks, sox and now even the rays. Thier current half-assed attempt to stay competitve by sort of spending money and sort of developing needs to stop, just accept that its going to be another couple of years of sucking, something they've done already and regroup, get younger and build a new core of talented young guys who can win for years. Its a hard sell, but its a whole lot harder than selling the good people of Toronto on third and fourth place finishes year in and year out.