Philadelphia Phillies now leading way on Roy Halladay trade talks?

Yahoo! Sports

Fri Dec 11 07:18am EST

Philadelphia Phillies now leading way on Roy Halladay trade talks?

The two-time National League champion Philadelphia Phillies are getting close to making themselves a little bit better if the rumors are to be believed. The word is that the Phillies have taken the lead on the trade talks for Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (notes), according to Sports Illustrated.

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has spent a lot of time telling various reporters, such as one from the News-Journal, all sorts of denials about Halladay: "I don't think there's any likeliness. None."

But Sports Illustrated is reporting that the team has been "very aggressive," according to a league source. "They're putting together a package, even if they need another team. They're trying to find the players [on other teams] the Blue Jays want to get it done."

The Phillies will reportedly give up J.A. Happ (notes) or Joe Blanton (notes) as well as Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown, according to FOXSports.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are the main competitor of the Phils right now and supposedly offered Joe Saunders (notes), Erick Aybar (notes), and Peter Bourjos to the Blue Jays for the rights to negotiate a long-term deal with Halladay, according to FOXSports. But the Los Angeles Times has it that Aybar isn't in the offer and the Jays want Mike Napoli (notes).

If the Angels can re-sign John Lackey (notes), the team will likely disappear from the Halladay talks.

Source: Sports IllustratedFOXSports