Boston's Halladay aspirations

Justin Thrift

This isn’t an article or column as much as it is a prediction. Look at this as baseball prophecy, if you will.

Up until now, I haven’t weighed in on the whole Roy Halladay situation. Until yesterday’s Cliff Lee deal, mostly everyone felt rather strongly about Philly’s chances of landing the Toronto stud, and I really had no reason to refute them. But in the wake of this Philadelphia-Cleveland deal, a few new opinions have arisen on the Halladay saga, and as usual, I’m here to state that I like the chances of the Boston Red Sox. Just here me out.

On the morning after another horrendous outing from the gruff Brad Penny, Sox fans are concluding one thing: while Penny does in fact bear a striking resemblance to a Spanish bull morphed with the Hulk himself, he is not someone we want to see more of. Letting up 5 runs in the first inning to the Oakland Athletics is not the quality of a pitcher that Boston is looking for as they go for their third World Series victory in 6 years. We tried him, he’s not working out, and we’re ready to move on.

In addition to the Penny mess, earlier this week John Smoltz continued his campaign towards Boston fans for why he should be cut from the rotation faster than an irate Daisuke Matsuzaka ranting in Japanese. Smoltz is a legend, well, was a legend, and now it’s time for him to hang it up. I’m sure Theo Epstein and Francona could organize a sit down between Smoltz and Brett Favre to help speed up the process.

So suddenly Boston’s premier starting 5 is illuminated as faulty. Apart from a solid 1-2-3, the Boston 4 and 5 spots lie completely in the hands of the cranky Dice-K and the aforementioned hacks.

But if there’s one thing we have learned from Boston’s championship head office over the past 7 years, it’s that they know what to do to build contending teams. Rest assured, Theo Epstein, John Henry, and Larry Lucino will not let Friday afternoon come before doing all they can to secure Roy Halladay. Quite arguably the best pitcher in baseball, acquiring him would solidify Boston’s WS hopes for the next two years and forge a probable wrap on this year’s contest.

Call it outlandish or unlikely, but Halladay is going to go somewhere and Boston has the best prospects out there currently to deal with. Better than LA, NYY, and Philadelphia, a package that involves players such as Clay Buchholz, Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden, and Ryan Westmoreland to name a few, will be undeniable for J.P. in the final hours of the trade deadline.

The Jays have talked far too much and come way too far not to trade Halladay. Even if Roy ends up in another uniform other than the Red Sox, I am 100% confident that the pitcher will be moved by tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Dig in baseball fans, the next 26 hours are going to be a thrill ride.