Yankees Shouldn’t Celebrate the ‘Halladay’

If the Yankees ever want to cut payroll and stop spending lavishly, then they will not make a trade for Roy Halladay. In addition to prospects the Yankees have deemed ‘untouchable’, the Yankees would also have to give up either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain to land Halladay.  We’re not talking about a trade of Austin Jackson and either Hughes or Joba for Halladay, we’re talking about Jackson, Hughes/Joba and two or three other top prospects for Halladay and then a multi-year, multi-million dollar extension for Halladay.  

Would it be worth it?  If the Yanks get Halladay they will have a greater chance at winning it all this season and probably next season, but they hurt their future.  The Yankees can keep spending and spending and trading away young talent in exchange for stars in their early 30′s and always be in the “win now” mode or they could work up their prospects, let them get the kinks out, give them the chance to contribute and come up big in the postseason, and give the Yankees a shot at another dynasty.

Let’s face it, the Yankees are getting old.  Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, and Mariano are all getting up their in age.  Those four guys all came up in the mid 90′s.  The Yanks were just getting ready for a youth movement recently, for the first time since those guys came up.  The Yankees made two incredible signings over the winter.  They signed Sabathia and Teixeira in their prime.  I think the Yankees currently have a good mix of players that are up-and-coming, in their prime, and experienced veterans.  

The Yankees have two options:

They can trade their best prospects for Halladay and hope he can get them over the hump and win a title.  Then, trade other top prospects next July for a star and hope to win again.  Get older… and older.  

Or, they could give the young guns a chance; pitch Joba every fifth day, give Hughes the set-up role, let Austin Jackson take over center, get Cervelli behind the plate, take what comes with young baseball players and hope the vets can play big and create a team that can win now and also have a chance at another dynasty within the next ten years.

If Halladay comes in here and the Yanks don’t win it all, then what?  He could struggle and get injured and not be the same after he signs a 5-year extension worth $18 million a year.  At least when the Yankees signed guys like Pavano, Giambi, and Mussina, all they did was spend money, they didn’t have to give away their prospects.  

A time must come when the Yankees say they will not trade certain players, no matter what, and stick with it.  They need to commit to the young players.  The price for Halladay is too steep… It’s the price of what could be, the next great Yankees dynasty.