The headline at ESPN.com says Roy Halladay won’t re-sign with Toronto when his contract is up, but Paul Beeston is not quite so final:
“We would like to sign him, he is an original Blue Jay and we have never had a pitcher as good as him,” Beeston told the Post. “But he is not inclined to sign with us.
I suspect at the moment that Halladay wants to win a championship, and doesn’t think the Blue Jays will get there in his career. One thing that could change his mind, I would guess, is for Toronto to develop a winner next season. I’m not sure how unlikely that is. They suffered some pitching setbacks in 2009, but if they can get the 2008 staff back, they’d be one of the best in the AL. If Vernon Wells can become an offensive force once surgery fixes his wrist, and they don’t lose anything from their other power positions, there’s a chance they do what the Rays did in 2008. That might change Halladay’s mind.
Posted by David Pinto at 9:33 am | Management, Pitchers | Permalink | 3 Comments
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November 22nd, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Halladay’s admission may also alter the asking price for a trade. I know I wouldn’t offer an arm and a leg to a team that basically has him for one season and then he’s gone. This isn’t like with Santana where if they had just thrown good money at him he probably would have signed– he’s outright saying he doesn’t want to resign.
November 22nd, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
you forgot to mention that in 2008 the yankees had a “down” year (for them), which is part of why the the 08 rays were able to be the 08 rays. if the yanks win 100 games again, how does that impact the jays winning??
November 22nd, 2009 @ 9:58 pm
@benjah: One reason the Yankees won 103 games in 2009 was that Posada, Cano and Matsui, who all were all down in 2008 had great years in 2009. A number of the Yankees who played well in 2009, Jeter, Rodriguez, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera are all getting up in age. It’s not that much of a stretch of the imagination to see the Yankees having a down year in 2010.