So yesterday I rambled on about the Sox and how they’re shopping Lowell and are looking to bring in a power hitting, Gold Glove winning first baseman in Adrian Gonzalez. I wrapped up the article in saying that a Causeway Day trade announcement like the Schilling one of 2003 Causeway Day would be outstanding.
Well my wish for a Causeway Day miracle may have been answered. Just not in the way I was hoping.
News this morning on ESPN.com is that the Red Sox are aggressively going after Toronto ace Roy Halladay. Now this would solve one of your problems on the team. It would solidify your rotation. Having Beckett, Lester and Halladay as your front three, you’re going to mow over the division and the rest of baseball.
Now what needs to be clarified is the asking price. If it’s Bard and Buchholz and a slew of your other minor leaguers that’s going to leave the farm system kind of bare if they’re looking to pull off a trade for a bat like Gonzalez. After this past season I’m reluctant to give up Bard in a deal seeing that Papelbon has lost a step (not saying he sucks or anything, he’s just not as good as he was).
Then there’s the issue of Halladay having his contract up at the end of the 2010 season. So happens that Josh Beckett’s deal also expires at the end of the 2010 season. After seeing CC Sabathia sign for seven years at $23 million a year, why wouldn’t these guys want to hit the free agent market and get similar dollars. If Sabathia is worth $23 million then Halladay must be worth at least that on the 2010 free agent market. Beckett, not so much. But Beckett at $18 million a year isn’t out of the question given team’s need for good front line starters.
Another rumor I read yesterday was the possibility of Adrian Beltre coming to the Sox. After an All Star type 2004 with 48 home runs, he signed a huge contract with Seattle and never managed to hit more than 26 home runs in five seasons. Rumor is that Theo is in love with him (Theo was also in love with Julio Lugo for reference sake) and with him being a Boras guy this may be the sign of a double signing on the horizon.
The Sox signed Drew only after they had negotiated the Dice-K signing. Well, Boras could be making another back room type deal where the Sox bail on Jason Bay, sign Matt Holiday to an outrageous deal and Boras lets him come to Boston so long as Boston ponies up for Beltre as well.
So maybe my favorite baseball team will get a Halladay on my favorite holiday of the year. Causeway Day. Here’s hoping.
