Phils' Holiday Starts with Halladay

Ruben Amaro Jr. wanted only one thing this holiday season, he's wanted it since the summer and he finally got it: Roy Halladay, who just arrived in Philadelphia in preparation for moving day.

Yesterday, there was talk that the Phillies offered Rookie of the Year runner-up JA Happ (who in '09 replaced Pat Burrell as the player the front office most desperately wants to shed) and #1 prospect Dominic Brown for Halladay. Today, they've thrown in staff ace Cliff Lee, who is headed to Seattle as part of a 3-team blockbuster mega-deal. Apparently, Lee dazzling the world on baseball's biggest stage in October wasn't enough to satisfy the Phils' Halladay-hungry cravings. The hunt for Roy was on, once again, and the Phils can finally rest, because they got the biggest holiday gift of all, their dream player.

One inspiration for the trade was Lee's refusal to receive anything less than top-dollar when his contract expires at the end this coming season. Contrastingly, Halladay has said he would not only wave his trade clause to join the championship contending Phils, but would a agree to a long term contract extension and be paid for less than market value in order to compete for a ring.

Halladay and the Phils are presently in Philadelphia preparing a deal that would start after the coming season in which the Phils would pay Halladay $60 million for 3 years: 2011-2013. While that sounds like a whopper, and it is, compare it with Santana or Sabathia, who are each paid $23 million per year, a figure Halladay is easily worth on the open market. Lee seeks a similar deal at the end of 2010 and the Phils don't want to pay it. Meanwhile, Toronto will send the Phils cash with Halladay to help offset his salary this coming season.

Halladay is right-handed, which will give the Phillies balance in the rotation, and he has as good a reputation as any starter in baseball. Still, he is injury-prone, something Cliff Lee is not. He's also a year older than Lee. Lee gave the Phillies all they could hope for last season, when they acquired him at mid-season. However, he saved best for last, posting a record of 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 5 postseason appearances and went 2-0 in the World Series.

All that is said and done, because Lee-- in his brief stint of a few memorable months as a Phillie-- is now team history.

Halladay, 32, is 148-76 lifetime with a 3.43 ERA. It remains to be announced what else the Phillies gave up (it's rumored stud minor league outfielder Michael Taylor, a top prospect) or acquired in the deal.

Phils Swap Aces

Gone today Here tomorrow

	Halladay	Lee*
W-L	17-10	14-13
ERA	2.79	3.22
K	208	181
Opp BA	.256	.272
CG	9	6
*7-4, 3.39 ERA with Phillies