In case I haven’t banged the drum loudly enough, the Chicago Cubs could stand to add a starting pitcher. Ted Lilly’s return in 2010 will be delayed, and his performance will be uncertain. Rich Harden isn’t returning at all. Randy Wells is no lock to repeat his early success. Surely they would consider adding the right arm if it became available.
And what if that arm was attached to Roy Halladay?
Well, the Blue Jays are looking to deal their ace this offseason, and they’ve contacted the Cubs. Boing. But…
[B]efore Cubs fans start salivating at the prospect of the former Cy Young winner in the rotation with Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, and Ryan Dempster, there’s a catch. He’s owed $15.75 million in 2010, and the Blue Jays want some of the Cubs’ top prospects. No. 1, the team can’t take on Halladay’s salary. The Blue Jays apparently have a wish list and Milton Bradley is not on it. A player like highly regarded shortstop Starlin Castro most likely is, and the Cubs don’t want to part with him, especially since they might only have Halladay for one year. Hot Stove Blog.
Comments:
1.) For Halladay (if not Curtis Granderson – thanks, haters), no prospect is untouchable. Not even Starlin Castro.
2.) The Blue Jays have announced that they will grant an acquiring team a window to negotiate an extension with Halladay – so the one-year thing is less of a concern.
3.) The money is a real problem. Short of dumping the majority of Milton Bradley’s contract – oh so unlikely – the Cubs would have to find a way to dump other salary. And the dudes with big money deals – Soriano, Ramirez, Fukudome, Lee, Zambrano, Dempster – aren’t going anywhere for a host of reasons.
So, unfortunately, short of getting really creative, Halladay appears but a smokey dream to us.