Yankees’ Interest in Roy Halladay

According to Jon Heyman of SI, the Yankees have contacted the Blue Jays about Roy Halladay. The Yankees have tested the waters in the past, but the price was too high for Halladay. The Blue Jays were asking for Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain in a package of prospects back in July and the Yankees didn’t budge. Turns out the 2009 World Series champs didn’t need Halladay. Hughes and Joba pitched well for them throughout the season, most notably Hughes as the setup man in the regular season and Joba in the late innings of the postseason.

The longer the Blue Jays wait, the less they’ll acquire in return for Halladay. Current Blue Jays general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, would like to get at least something for him before he jets into free agency and they are only compensated by a draft pick.

Just like the Yankees didn’t budge in July, they shouldn’t budge this winter. The main reason is they won without the guy! Why would they want to give up their better prospects and young arms for a him when they already know they can do it without him? It makes less sense now than it did over the summer for the Yankees not to pursue Halladay. Their two young arms, Hughes and Joba, have more postseason experience than Halladay. Don’t get me wrong, Halladay is a great pitcher. Top of the line. I’d rather see the Yankees sign free agent pitcher John Lackey than trade for Halladay. It’s better they only lose dollars, not players, to acquire a pitcher.

Here are two articles I wrote last July against the Yankees’ pursuit of Roy Halladay: The Yankees and Roy Halladay, Yankees Shouldn’t Celebrate the “Halladay”. I stand by my words and there is absolutely no reason the Yankees should acquire Roy Halladay, even if the Red Sox are on the verge of signing him. There should be no “swooping in” by the Yankees like they did with Teixeira. Brian Cashman will remain in the talks for Halladay to either drive up the price for the Red Sox and other bidders, or because the Yankees are genuinely interested in bringing Halladay to the Bronx.

Tags: Brian Cashman, Joba Chamberlain, John Lackey, Phil Hughes, Roy Halladay