Yankee Fans Unite

It's rather quiet on the board lately; and it has been pretty much dead since Sunday. Did everybody take the All-Star break off?

So, Halladay might be available. If the package is right. I know, Toronto would rather not trade him with in the division. If they were smart, they would try to avoid trading him to an AL team at all. But, if the package is right they would be foolish not to pull the trigger, no matter the team. So, who would you be willing to offer for Halladay?

I came to the realization over the weekend that I am close to being 100% through with Joba Chamberlain. If you had asked me a month ago if I would be willing to give up Joba for any other pitcher in the majors, I would have had doubts. No longer. If the Yankees could get Halladay with a package that centered around Joba, I would take it in a heartbeat. Right now I'm thinking along the lines of Jose Tabata. Great potential, but the attitude got in the way. Yeah, Joba is further along than Tabata ever really got. But his attitude really sucks right now. I would say ship him out, as long as they get somebody like Halladay in return.

As far as the other pieces? As long as they don't include Hughes, most of the current Major league roster, or Hughes, I'm okay with it. If the Yankees want to win now, pull the trigger. It could be their best chance for a while.

I was on vacation and have only been online where the internet's free (except right now at LAX where I couldn't take it anymore).

I like Joba, I really do, but if he doesn't start showing returns on his huge potential I'm going to have to agree and want him traded. Hughes has undergone a revival in the bullpen and I have always liked his personality. With Joba, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after his DUI but his comments after pitching poorly are really beginning to tick me off. I saw where Pete Abe was advocating a trade centered around Joba, Jesus Montero, and someone like Dellin Betances to round it out and I think a trade proposal like that would find me agreeable.

I'm all for acquiring Doc. Prospects exist to bolster the big club. They do that in one of two ways: improve and make the ML roster, or get traded, so that the ML club becomes stronger.

Now, having said that, what is the correct balance? Getting Doc is going to cost, certainly, but how much is too much? Phil or Joba, but not both, is acceptable to me. Toronto will need a serviceable replacement for Halladay, after all. From what I can tell, they want a catcher and a replacement for Marco Scutaro at SS, who is expected to play out his option.

I would not package Jesus Montero with Phil or Joba; you trade your top pitching prospect, or your top position prospect, but not both [I'm rating Jesus above A-Jax]. Catcher? Why not Austin Romine? Montero is a question mark regarding staying behind the plate; Romine has a better defensive skill set and projects a better bat than Frankie Cervelli, for example.

Shortstop? Gotta be a kid; Jays won't fall for some recycled hash. Ramiro Pena [keeping Edwin Nunez once again for batting projection].

Pitching? I say Joba [keeping Phil].

So far, we have Joba, Pena, and Romine. Sweeten the pot with another young RH SP?

Here's my thoughts on the whole fireballing thing:
Joba is hurt/stubborn/out of shape/out of favor or whatever; still has huge enough upside for Toronto to be happy. Brackman will do better next year, his second after TJ surgery. There's your eventual Joba replacement. Who stands to be the Brackman replacement, developing in the minors [think gas, people]:Aroldis Chapman! It's only $$$, so why not?

With the scenario I mentioned above, we get a great chance by bolstering the Yanks and retaining depth in the minors.

It's tempting...very tempting. How Joba starts out the second half could make it even moreso.

And another possible name to throw into the package...how about Robinson Cano? Yes, the Jays have Aaron Hill, but he can play short, or they could turn this into a 3-way deal. Ramiro Pena could probably play 2nd.

Just an idea.

It seems Halladay would like to play for the Yankees, according to this article on MLB.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... p&c_id=mlb

If front office can give us a rotation like this one...
1- Sabathia
2- Halladay
3- Burnett
4- Pettitte
...then I would have no problem if Kei Igawa himself take the 5th spot. Really. Those top 4 would make the best rotation in the Majors in decades.

I don't know what will happen with Wang. But, can you imagine him bouncing back and taking that 5th spot? WOW. Then it would be the best rotation ever.

I know Boston is trying to get Halladay. But I think we have an edge over them.
1- We are the World Champions, something "Doc" would really like to be a part of.
2- We have Burnett. And we all know they are very good friends.

Anyway, if he doesn't come here, I would really like him to go anywhere else but Boston. The same way as our rotation would be a great one whit him, Halladay-Beckett-Lester-Matsuzaka-Wakefield would be a terrific one.