Are you like me? Do you get seriously irritated that you can't enjoy a Yankee victory, or even a 2 1/2 game lead, without some annoying Red S*x fan (redundant) throwing out that tired mantra: "Yeah, well, for $200 million, you oughtta win a couple."? It's annoying because to some degree it's true. It's more annoying because the Red S*x use their financial might almost as much as the Yankees do, yet S*x fans seem to ignore this, but whatever.
The fact remains: it would be sweeter to watch the Yankees win with what they have now, or maybe make a tweak or two to the roster, rather than have them go out and bring in another ace. Yes, the Yankees can go out right now and get Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays. They obviously can afford his contract, and to resign him to a bigger one later, something Toronto cannot. They also have the prospects the Blue Jays would require to pry loose arguably the best pitcher in franchise history (No offense to David Cone, Dave Stieb or Jimmy Key).
Would getting Halladay guarantee the Yankees a world championship? There are no guarantees in sports, but this would come pretty damned close to it. But is that really what we want? Do we need a sure thing today that mortgages tomorrow? Besides -- what happens if the Yankees fail in October with Halladay and then watch those prospects that they were counting on to help the team contend in the future blossom elsewhere? Just go sign more free agents? We've seen how well that's worked out. And we've learned that in October, nothing is guaranteed.
Before we pooh-pooh a Halladay deal, however, there is this to consider: The Red S*x are in virtually the same position. They have the money and the chips to bring this guy into their fold. Now, they operate on a similar mindset. The Yankees have held onto their young players fiercely the last few years (and it's paying off awfully well with Cano, Hughes, and even a currently underwhelming Joba). The Red S*x have never trucked out their best young players for veteran stars -- the Josh Beckett trade being the lone notable exception.
But the S*x are now 2 1/2 games out of first, and Beantowners are a reactionary lot just like New Yorkers. They are feeling the pressure, and they are making sure Theo Epstein feels it, too. They could swing a Halladay deal. That would give them this rotation for the playoffs: Beckett-Halladay-Lester-insert name here (could be Penny, Wakefield if healthy, Matsuzaka if healthy -- it's just a fourth starter).
How comfortable are you with that, Yankee fans? I'm not very comfortable with that, Yankee fans. Nor am I thrilled with the possibility of the Rays getting him. They have the prospects to deal, as well. It's only a matter of their deciding they can afford his contract. With their window of opportunity clearly being open right now, they just might make that bold decision.
Personally, I'd like to see the Phillies swoop in and grab Halladay right now and put my mind at ease (at least until the World Series). Until then, the Yankees must ask themselves: Can we win the pennant if Roy Halladay goes to Boston or Tampa, and are we willing to bet that he doesn't?
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Much as I doubt the Yankees or Red Sox or Rays will actually obtain Halladay, sometimes a team has to swallow its pride if the best offer comes from a team in its division. Personally, I hope one of these teams acquire Halladay if he has to move on because Toronto can't afford him. It's also because the Mets could write off next year if the Phillies maintain their potent offense and have a rotation featuring Halladay-Hamels-Myers. The fact is the Red Sox, Rays, Phillies and Yankees have built from within and now are in position to reap the rewards. Good for them. Baseball needs the Yankees and Red Sox to be the "bad guys". It lines all of the owners pockets when the Yankees and Sox are good and world beaters. As a fan who didn't mind when teams like the Twins, Royals and Brewers would win, the Rays gave me hope last year that we could return to those days. But, baseball is a business and typically those that spend, win. So, here's to you Philly, with your gritty and hard to hate lineup, you can pay for Halladay without hurting your roster and if you get him deserve back-to-back championships as long as your bullpen does not betray you.
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