A Look At Halladay's Dominance Of The Yanks

We all know that Roy Halladay has dominated the Yankees throughout his career. But to get a better understanding of just how dominant he's been, we turn to this article from ESPN New York's Mark Simon. He breaks down Doc's dominance looks at some of Halladay's impressive numbers against the Yankees from a historical perspective.

Halladay's 18-6 record against the Bombers:

Only two pitchers who have more than 20 decisions against the Yankees have better win-loss records: You've heard of the all-time leader, Babe Ruth (17-5, .773). No. 2 is early 20th-century Hall of Famer Addie Joss (28-9, .757).

His 2.84 ERA against the Yankees--by far the best of any pitcher in the since 1994, or in "the wild-card era". The only other guys who've thrown at least 100 innings in that stretch that are close are Pedro Martinez (3.20) and David Wells (3.47).

He then looked at the pitchers with the best ERA+ against the Yanks throughout history with a minimum of 200 innings. Here are those pitchers:

1. Hoyt Wilhelm: 148 (mostly as a reliever)
   
2. Roy Halladay: 145
3. Walter Johnson: 138
4. Pedro Martinez: 137
5. Dean Chance: 135

Hallday also has seven complete games against the Yankees, which is three more than any other pitch in the wild-card era.

Simon also goes into his dominance of Derek Jeter, and discusses all the above in greater detail.

Basically he's been the most dominating pitcher against the Yankees all-time, which is pretty damn impressive.

Most recently, he was 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA against them in 2009, including a complete game one-hitter in September. The only stat I could find that the Yankees have on their side is Halladay's 4.85 ERA in two starts at the new stadium. One way or another, the Yankees are very lucky that they will only rarely have to face Halladay now that he's in the NL. However, one of those rare occasions will be tonight in the Bronx, and CC Sabathia is going to brush off his recent struggles quickly because he's in for a battle.

Halladay Head To Philly In 3-Way Deal?

From Jon Heyman:

3-way trade agreed to with halladay going to phils, cliff lee to mariners. phils trying to lock up roy now.

The way Lee pitched last year they might not be getting that much more in return. It will also be interesting to see what kind of prospects are involved in this deal.

Lackey Headed To Boston

While a deal isn't likely to get done today, John Lackey did take a physical with the Red Sox and the two sides are close to a deal similar to A.J. Burnett's 5-year, $82.5 million deal.

George A. King III is reporting that this would likely lead to the Yankees backing off of a trade for Roy Halladay. This makes little sense to me because now the Sox have a rotation that is at least as good as the Yankees. With Boston out of the Halladay sweepstakes the price could also drop, which would give the Yankees more reason to stay in the hunt.

King: Yanks in Third in Race For Halladay

From George A. King III:

You never count the Yankees out of anything. Watching Alex Rodriguez walk through the door in 2004 instilled the belief anything is possible.

Nevertheless, when it comes to the Roy Halladay Sweepstakes, the Yankees appear to be running third.

The Angels, who reportedly made an offer to the Blue Jays yesterday, and Phillies are the favorites.

King mentions that the Phillies appear to be willing to part with big time prospects Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor, and could may also include Cole Hamels in a deal. But before they can make this deal, they'd first must find new homes for Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer.

The Angels offered Erick Aybar, Joe Saunders and Peter Bourjos to the Blue Jays yesterday for Doc, according to the article.

I'm not sure the Yankees can compete with those offers, but the Jays do love Jesus Montero. The fact that they're in the Jays division will make this an even tougher sell. But as long as he's out of the division I'll be happy, although he would make the Angels or Phillies very dangerous going into the 2010 season.

Halladay

Adding on to what Greg said, Heyman also stated that:

#yankees still interested in lackey or halladay. source: #jays requested montero plus joba OR hughes plus more for roy.

I figured this would be the case, and that's why I'm glad the Yanks got Grandy. The Halladay asking price is WAY too high, I mean, people were saying the Yanks depleted their pitching with the Granderson trade (and that was Kennedy and Coke!!!), imagine if this went through. I don't want to give up Montero, under any circumstances, and it would take a lot for anyone to convince me giving up joba or Phil is reasonable.

Sherman: Yanks Still In Hunt For Halladay

Via Joel Sherman:

If you think Curtis Granderson is going to be the only big move of this offseason for the Yankees, then you don’t know the Yankees.

Even while finalizing a deal in which they gave up three prospects to complete a trade in principle for Granderson, the Yankees were continuing to talk — and talk some more — to Blue Jays officials about a trade for Roy Halladay, The Post has learned.

Major league officials described Toronto as intensifying efforts to trade its ace at the Winter Meetings, though the expectation is that a deal will not get done at this gathering. However, those same officials say that all signs point now to the Blue Jays definitely trading Halladay this offseason. And the Yankee contingent is signaling they are in by making it clear to Toronto officials that they are willing to discuss major prospects even after letting the touted Austin Jackson go in the package for Granderson.

Sherman also says that Toronto "loves" Jesus Montero, but did mention that the Yankees believe that the Jays want to send Halladay outside the AL East, and that many people around baseball believe a team like the Angels will step up the bidding and land the Jays ace.

If Cahsman gave up both Ajax and Montero in one offseason I would be very surprised. It goes against everything he's done and said over the last few years regarding young prospects and the Yankees farm system. If the Yanks throw in Joba or Hughes, which they'd likely have to, I'd be even more surprised.

More Halladay

Jon Heyman tweeted a few minutes ago about Halladay:

hearing #redsox wont give up either buchholz or casey kelly for halladay. can you say "market crash?"

I never thought the Jays were asking too much, but now someone, even if it is the Sox, are standing up and saying- you're not getting this from us. Maybe it'll lower the price for the Yanks.

On another note, I guess I'm alright with the Grandy trade. It'll all depend on how he does- as it always does in NY.

Heyman: Yanks Will Bid On Halladay

This comes from Jon Heyman's Twitter page:

yankees decided they will bid on halladay. tor wants some combo of hughes, joba, a-jax and montero. redsox have best chance, tho

We already had a pretty good idea that the Yankees were going to be in on the Halladay sweepstakes, but at least now we're getting some sort of confirmation of it.

I just wonder if "some combo of hughes, joba, a-jax and montero" means two of the four or three of the four. If it's three of the four, then that Yanks should say thanks, but no thanks.

Olney: Halladay Deal Must Happen Before Spring Training

From Buster Olney:

Roy Halladay, the All-Star pitcher who has been the subject of much trade talk since before the July deadline, will not approve any proposed deal after he reports to spring training, according to his representatives.

This means that the Blue Jays will either have to work out a trade of Halladay by the end of the off-season, or be prepared to receive only draft-pick compensation when the pitcher becomes eligible for free agency in the fall of 2010.

...

"[But] one thing is certain -- once Roy reports to spring training as a member of the Blue Jays, from that point forward he will not approve or even discuss any potential trade scenario," Berry continued. "This will eliminate a repeat of the distracting media frenzy of 2009 for both Roy and his teammates, and will allow Roy to focus on pitching at the exceptional level Jays fans have come to expect."

This is really Johan Santana part two.... Anyway, this news doesn't really change anything, most people believe the Jays will get a deal done with someone by the beginning of spring training.

Burnett Wants His Mentor To Join Him On Yanks

From Mark Feinsand:

"I think it's time for him to get a fresh start," Burnett said Monday. "He's paid his dues there, been the face of the organization, done everything they've asked him to do and more. At this point in his career, I think he just wants to win."

...

After playing the first 12 years of his career in Toronto, a move to New York would be a major change for the 32-year-old, but Burnett - who acknowledged that the two markets are "completely different" - doesn't think Halladay would be overwhelmed by the pressure that comes with wearing pinstripes.

"I don't think he would let anything distract him," Burnett said. "He's not really the type of person that gets intimidated easily. It doesn't matter where he pitches; he's going to be the same. None of the stuff that goes on here would faze him at all."

Burnett also thinks he could helps pitchers like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes like helped Burnett back in Toronto. "You're going to get a guy you can learn from. When you're around him, he encourages you to get better. You watch him make himself better and it inspires you." The only problem with that is that one of those two would be in Toronto if Halladay was a Yankee.

Halladay Willing To Come To The Bronx

According Bob Elliott, he was told by an MLB executive that Roy Halladay would waive his NTC and approve a deal to the Yankees if the Yanks and Jays were able to work something out.

“I don’t know who Toronto will wind up with,” a major league executive said Friday. “I don’t know when he is going and I don’t know where he’s going.

“But I do know that Halladay has told the Jays he’ll approve a trade to the Yankees.”

This is not a surprise, or major news, but it's slow tonight so I figured I'd post it. Back during the 2009 trade deadline it was reported that one of the teams Halladay was open to was the Yankees, so I couldn't imagine that changing in the last few months, especially with the Yankees coming off a World Series win. It was also reported back then that Halladay would approve a deal to Boston as well.

Heyman: Jays Are Looking for Montero and Hughes/Joba for Halladay

Here's a recent tweet from Jon Heyman:

ive heard halladay-shopping jays like jesus montero of yanks (plus hughes/joba?) and casey kelly of redsox (plus buchholz?)

So my question to you is this: Would you trade Joba or Hughes (your choice) and Montero for Halladay?

Rosenthal: Halladay Deal Won't Happen Soon

Ken Rosenthal explains on Fox Sports today why he thinks that any talks to acquire Toronto's Roy Halladay will likely take longer than what Boston is hoping for. He starts out the article by saying that discussions for the right-hander could mirror the Johan Sanatana talks if Halladay would only waive his if he got a contract extension, which will likely be the case.

He goes on to discuss how the Jays interest in Boston prospect Casey Kelly, and Boston's reluctance to deal him, will likely keep the talks between Boston and Toronto going for some time.

He also explains why Toronto has no need to rush into things:

The Jays, on the other hand, need not accept an inferior package for Halladay. They can keep him next season, offer him salary arbitration after he becomes a free agent and receive two high picks in return. Halladay's trade value is at least the talent equivalent of the two high picks.

And also hints at Boston's reasons for trying to push for a quick deal:

The Red Sox would be wise to push hard for a rapid resolution on Halladay at a time when the Yankees have yet to set their budget for next season. Santana, though, was not traded until Feb. 2 in the 2007-08 offseason. The Twins' Bill Smith was a new G.M., just like the Jays' Alex Anthopoulos is now.

That makes sense, hopefully Anthopoulos is smart and waits until the Yankees get into the bidding. At the very least it will drive up the price for the Red Sox.

Rosenthal concludes by stating that while Toronto is motivated to move Halladay that these "will be complex, tricky, multi-layered negotiations." And it would be "an upset" if they ended quickly. I agree.

Red Sox "Putting On A Full-Court Press" To Acquire Halladay

From Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden:

The Red Sox are "putting on a full-court press" to acquire Roy Halladay, according to a source, and are hoping to add the former Cy Young winner to the top of their rotation to go with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

"They would love to get it wrapped up before the winter meetings (beginning Dec. 7)," the source said of the Red Sox, who made a big push to deal for Halladay last summer.

The article goes on to speculate that Boston would probably have to give up Clay Buchholz along with minor leaguer pitcher/shortstop, Casey Kelley.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is said to be smitten with Kelly, which could be a sticking point in talks with Toronto if Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos insists on the 20-year-old being included in a deal.

I absolutely hate the idea of the Red Sox getting Halladay. With Halladay, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka they would have the best top four starters in any rotation in baseball. And with Boston "smitten" with Halladay it will bring up the price if the Yankees get into the mix.

Also, if Boston does land the right-hander I think it would force the Yankees to get even more seriously involved in the John Lackey sweepstakes.