So the Phillie nation is all excited about signing Roy Halladay. Yeah ... no brainer top notch pitcher (maybe the best in the majors). But in doing so they send off Cliff Lee? Lee was the most dominate pitcher in the post season last year. What did the Phillies really gain? You can only win so many playoff games with your ace whether it be Lee or Halladay. If Lee is unbeatable (which he was) and Halladay is going to be unbeatable (which he MAY be), what did you gain? An ace for an ace? I don't get it.
Not to mention the Phillies could have capitalized on Lee's last year of contract which was something like 8 or 9 million. Silly if you ask me. You could have had the best left handed pitcher in the game for dirt cheap for 1 more year.
Halladay (imo) is an intimidator on the mound. Lee was not IMO. Both great pitchers, but Halladay is still the "name" ace.
Cliff Lee is a VERY good pitcher, but he is no Roy Halladay. You can put Halladay's name in the same group as Tim Lincecum, C.C. Sabathia, and Felix Hernandez.
Marketing. Fresh meat sells. Plus, he's better then Lee. At least they were smart enough to ship Lee off to the AL!
The Phils. couldn't afford to keep both pitchers. I hate to see Lee go, but in the long run they got a good deal. Lee's contract was up at the end of the year and they say he's going for huge money next contract. The Phils. got Halladay at a great price (I don't remember the exact numbers) and a 4 year deal. The mistake they made last year was signing Jamey Moyer, who probably shouldn't even be in the majors, to something like a 6 million dollar a year contract. If that money was freed up, they could of kept Lee and Halliday. BTW, I expect Cole Hammels to have a monster season this year, his ego's to big for him to suck.
i think it was a great move... halladay has done what he has done against the best teams in baseball. they are both great pitchers and there is no doubt about that. if stupid cole hamels can get it back together they will have left and right arm studs. seattle is looking nice with lee and felix, they will be on of the top tandems in the league no questions asked.
Money, and terms were deffinatly a big part...but lets be real, Roy is a stud, but Lee is no slouch and basically carried them through the end of the season and into the playoffs...In the overall scheme, it was a good decision...right hand power pitcher will face more right hand batters for righty/righty matchups if you believe in those things...I am sure that never came up, but it is something to think about.
