Halladay to Phillies; Lee to Mariners
The Philadelphia Phillies wanted Roy Halladay(notes) at the trade deadline. Five months later, in what might become the biggest trade baseball has seen in years, they appear to have landed him.
Halladay
The Phillies acquired Halladay on Monday in a deal that sent Cliff Lee(notes), the July acquisition that helped them to a second straight World Series appearance, to the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners and Phillies sent prospects to the Toronto Blue Jays, the team that held onto Halladay in July despite a strong overture from the Phillies.
"We don't comment on speculation," said Alex Anthopoulos, the new Blue Jays general manager who has been extremely reluctant to discuss anything pertaining to Halladay the entire offseason.
Philadelphia is expected to sign Halladay to a three-year, $60 million contract extension beyond the $15.75 million he will make in 2010 under his existing deal. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Halladay and his agent Monday checked into a Philadelphia hotel.
Halladay, 33, is considered among the game's best and most consistent pitchers. He has spent his entire 12-year career in Toronto and would have to waive a no-trade clause, which he is expected to do.
Lee
When the Phillies balked at Toronto's asking price for Halladay at the July trade deadline, they quickly shifted gears and acquired Lee, who pitched brilliantly after arriving from Cleveland. Like Halladay, the 31-year-old Lee is a free agent following the 2010 season. He is signed this year for $9 million and would join a Seattle team that already spent $36 million this offseason to sign third baseman Chone Figgins(notes) for four years. Lee has said that he won't give a team a discount in negotiating a contract extension, so Seattle might get him for only a year.
Philadelphia and Seattle are both stocked with deep farm systems and young major league talent, providing the perfect trade partners for a Toronto team hoping to replenish itself through a Halladay trade.
