Roy Halladay Close to Becoming a Phillie

Update: Roy Halladay is a Philadelphia Phillie and we can thank his family partially for that.  Prospects came and went and Roy will be here for at least 4 seasons.  Check out my Google Shared Items over on the right for all the great articles dissecting the deal.  It's the biggest deal of the off-season so everyone has chimed in with their opinion.

So as you have heard the Phillies may be close to trading for Roy Halladay. Great news. The bad news? They'll be losing some prospects and Cliff Lee.
First, Halladay, 32, is supposedly in Philly, which definitely means a physical or something else is close.

Lee,31, will be making $9 million and Halladay will be making $15.75 million in 2010.  Halladay also has a full no trade clause.

The Phillies believe they are unable to sign Lee to a long-term contract after 2010 because Lee wants to testt the market, wouldn't give the Phillies a 'home-town discount', and is seeking a contract like C.C. Sabathia's. Sabathia will be making $23 million a year until 2015.

Jayson Stark says the Phillies have an organizational philosophy not to sign starting pitchers for more than 3 years and that Lee is seeking a contract around 5 or 6 years.  With that information he may be seeking a contract in the neighborhood of $130 million over 6 years after 2010, an extension the Phillies were not interested in.
The trade is also contingent on Halladay signing an extension with the Phillies, which is expected to be around $60 million for 3 years, on top of the $15.75 for 2010.

Lee will be going to the Seattle Mariners who have the money to attempt to sign him to a long-term and could definitely use him in 2010. The Toronto Blue Jays will be receiving a combination of prospects from the Phillies and Mariners.  In addition to receiving Halladay, the Phillies will be given cash to pay Halladay's contract and possibly even a prospect from Seattle.  Not exactly sure on who the prospects will be, but if you are interested check out the links below.

Who will be getting what:
Phillies: Roy Halladay, cash, prospect/s
Blue Jays: prospects (definitely plural)
Mariners: Cliff Lee, prospect/s

So the Phillies will likely have Roy Halladay until through at least 2013.


Phillies Starting Pitchers of the Future (from Cot's Baseball Contracts) ($ in millions)
2010: Halladay ($15.75), Cole Hamels ($6.65), Jamie Moyer ($6.5), Blanton ($5.475+arbitration), J.A. Happ ($0.405)
2011: Halladay (~$20), Hamels ($9.5), J.A. Happ
2012: Halladay (~$20), Hamels ($9.5+arbitration), J.A. Happ
2013: Halladay (~$20), J.A. Happ
So, you can see why the organization likes this deal, they get a Halladay for many years to come.

I'll update this post when things are finalized, but here are some links to keep track of everything:
ESPN.com - Jayson Stark article
BeerLeaguer
SI.com - John Heyman
MLB Trade Rumors