Phillies in the lead for Halladay?

A source tells Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated that the Phillies appear to be out in the lead for the services of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay.

“They’ve been very aggressive,” one baseball source told Verducci. “They’re putting together a package, even if they need another team. They’re trying to find the players [on other teams] the Blue Jays want to get it done.”

We saw recently that JA Happ would be included and it would have to involve one of the Phils young outfielders. Namely, Dom Brown or Michael Taylor. We also heard the name Cole Hamels thrown out there, but I doubt the Phillies want to do that. Not saying they wouldn’t, but I can’t imagine they’d be thrilled with that.

The Phils would have an absolutely filthy rotation if they landed Halladay. Assume that Happ is the guy that gets sent off. Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Pedro (heck, swap out Hamels for Happ if you have to. It’s still nasty). Have fun with that, Mets. Sure, Hamels was up and down all year last year, but what if he found his 2008 form? The Yankees could get Granderson and Holliday, it wouldn’t matter. This lineup, which is improved with the swapping out of Polanco for Feliz, with that starting pitching? C’mon.

And let’s not forget, the Phillies have been linked to John Smoltz for the bullpen. Lidge might not even be an issue.

Regardless, it’s clear that the Phillies are looking to improve a team that has two World Series appearances and a ring in the last two years. Could a deal like this find the Phillies in the cellar for years to come down the road? Of course it could. But, the Phillies have been the pits for years, so it’s not like Philly wouldn’t be used to it. They have the farm system and the cash to get this done.

We’d be curious about signing these guys long term. To mortgage the farm for just one year of Halladay and Lee wouldn’t be thrilling. But, if they can sign just one of them to an extension (you have to at least do that, right?), we think it’s worth it. Utley, Howard, Rollins, Ibanez….these guys aren’t kids and they aren’t getting younger. Might as well push some chips into the middle of the table.

Either way, this town cannot complain about what the Phillies are doing right now. Whether deals get done or not, there is too much smoke for there not to be fire. At least they are trying. When was the last time we could say that about this team?