AFTER the 1997 season, when they had just lost the World Series, the Indians were offered Pedro Martinez by the Expos as long as they included Jaret Wright in return.
“Jaret Wright?” the Indians asked. No way. How could they trade Wright, who was just 22 and had pitched so well in the postseason? So they let Martinez, the best pitcher in baseball, go to the Red Sox.
Why note this? Because the Indians’ offense was in a place much like where Philadelphia’s is now. That Cleveland team had a win-now everyday lineup in which Manny Ramirez was 26, Jim Thome and Brian Giles 27, and Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar, Omar Vizquel and David Justice all 31 or 32.
Without a true ace, the Indians never maximized that lineup to win it all.
The Phillies already have a world championship from last year. But their window to win more is now. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth are between 28 and 30. This is their prime.
The Phillies are viewed as the front-runners to get Toronto ace Roy Halladay. But are they really about to let Kyle Drabek become Jaret Wright and rob the organization of its best chance to be a dynasty?
“This guy [Drabek] is 5-foot-10 and had Tommy John surgery once. If he is holding up the trade, then I am shocked,” said an AL scout who covers the Phillies system. “Drabek is a nice pitcher. But you are talking Roy Halladay. You are talking the best pitcher in baseball.”
It is possible that both the Phillies and Blue Jays are merely posturing to see if the other blinks before 4 p.m. Friday, the non-waiver trading deadline. Right now Toronto officials are saying they will not budge off demands for a significant return (which in Philly’s case almost certainly has to include Drabek). Meanwhile, the Phils also are looking at Cleveland’s Cliff Lee and Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn, when everyone knows they hunger for Halladay.
Executives from two different clubs said the Phillies are positioned to make this trade because they have one of the best prospect bases in the majors; “No worse than third,” an NL executive said.
“It is not like they would be barren if they traded for [Halladay],” an AL personnel man said. “Their organization has done a good job of drafting. They will not fall on hard times if they have to include even 3-4 top guys.”
Two scouts who cover the Phillies said Philadelphia’s Low-A team is loaded, noting in particular starters Jason Knapp and Heitor Correa, and fleet center fielder Anthony Gose — all teenagers. Both scouts said Philadelphia has so many talented kids at Low-A that they would grow while Halladay is helping this current group win, which makes sacrificing prospects like Drabek and outfielder Dominic Brown more palatable.
The Red Sox and Rangers are considered the next strongest contenders for Halladay.
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The Yankees were still not in any strong pursuit of Halladay or Lee. Washburn is now available, but the Yankees’ interest is tempered. As of early last night, the Yankees and Mariners had not even discussed potential trade pieces.
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The Rangers rejected an offer to bring Scott Kazmir home to Texas. The Rays have shopped Kazmir and Carlos Pena, and in the right blockbuster would even consider Carl Crawford, in an attempt to free up dollars to make a bigger trade. Tampa Bay has interest in Lee and catcher Victor Martinez from Cleveland. Tampa Bay talked briefly to the Mets about a Kazmir deal, but after expressing initial interest, the Mets never got back on the subject with Rays officials.
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The Diamondbacks have received a lot of interest in closer Chad Qualls, but remain unlikely to trade him because: 1) They think they can contend next year and Qualls would be key to that. 2) Qualls projects as a Type-A free agent after 2010, so Arizona figures it will get use of him next season and two draft picks, and even if the D’backs don’t contend, they could always put him back on the market in July 2010.
The Yankees had initially inquired about Qualls, but are not among the teams still calling.