Phillies’ next upgrade: Pedro and Halladay in rotation?
So the Phillies may add Pedro Martinez ...
The Philadelphia Phillies have won nine of their last 10 games, hold division leads of four games over Florida and six over the Braves — and they’re looking to significantly upgrade themselves in the free agent and trade markets.
Remember what that felt like, Braves fans — being a player?
We can’t know if Braves general manager Frank Wren will try to swing a trade to improve the team. But it’s clear the Phillies
... and Roy Halladay to the rotation?
are shooting high. Several reports indicate they are about to close finalizing a deal for free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez. Now, it certainly can be debated whether Martinez has anything left. He is 37, struggled with a hamstring injury last season and in 20 starts for the New York Mets went only 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA. But the Phillies feel desperate for pitching help and they’ve watched Martinez throw at least twice. So it’s not like they’re going into this blind.
What do they have to lose? Salary won’t be a factor. Martinez is expected to play for a prorated $4 million to $5 million contract. And as it turns out, some franchises don’t have a problem with taking those kinds of gambles when weighing the potential upside in October.
Can you imagine what Martinez does for the Phillies if he can give them any quality starts? What would his impact be down the stretch and in the post-season?
It doesn’t end there. Signing Martinez reportedly does not preclude the Phillies from trying to swing a deal for Toronto starter Roy Halladay, who will start Tuesday’s All-Star Game for the American League. Halladay is being sought by several contenders but none more aggressively than the Phillies. The Blue Jays’ pitcher said Monday he wouldn’t mind pitching for a National League team, given he currently plays in the American League East, joking: “I’d rather hit than have to face [Derek] Jeter and A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) and [Hideki] Matsui.”
At an All-Star media session in St. Louis, Halladay said he enjoys Toronto but added: “I think as a player, there’s a will to win. There’s that will to do it in October. Basically, that’s all this is about. I’d like that chance.” He may get it.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
54 comments Add your comment
Michael
July 13th, 2009
2:47 pm
Pedro’s done. I hope they sign him to a multi-year deal.
And what’s Halladay going to be worth to them, really? 2 or 3 wins that they might not have got without him? Hardly a needle-mover. Yawn.
The Braves won’t catch Philly unless they get a bat or two, regardless of who Philly does or does not sign.
Chris
July 13th, 2009
2:55 pm
They can have Pedro. Halladay would worry me, but hey, Kawakami beat him, right?
Wren needs to worry about another bat. I like the Church trade, but he won’t pull us out of 3rd/4th/purgatory.
Brendan
July 13th, 2009
3:11 pm
To those with the idea of Michael that it might only be 2 or 3 extra wins, if the Phillies manage a deal with just prospects and not a current starter, he’d essentially be replacing their current #5 as everyone else could move down a spot, and that’s more like 8-10 wins possibly.
The Ghost of Frenchy
July 13th, 2009
3:30 pm
What are you talking about Schultz?!?
The Braves just activated Greg Norton, how are they not players??
Big Rapper
July 13th, 2009
3:36 pm
Atlanta Braves suck who cares! The only thing worse than the braves are their idiot fans and that stupid wave they do, I bet they are all farting when they stand up!
Sunni
July 13th, 2009
3:37 pm
I dont atlanta braves either but there fans a re pretty smart!
Bucky
July 13th, 2009
3:37 pm
I do the wave and dont release farts when I do!
Pedro
July 13th, 2009
3:39 pm
You all is talking bad bout me. I still pitch very very good and iz going to pitch with strikeouts and get thee wins because I is a good very very pitcher who cans still winz. Adios amigos and muchachas!
ITP Brave
July 13th, 2009
3:44 pm
I’ll reserve judgment on Pedro until I see him actually pitch. The talk on local radio is that Phillies’ scouts have him throwing 90+MPH. If that was actually true, he’d have a dozen teams lining up to sign him. I suspect he throws closer to 85MPH and is used primarily as an innings eater (which, frankly, the Phillies really need.)
As for Halladay, the division race is over the moment the Phillies get him.
NC Braves Fan
July 13th, 2009
3:47 pm
Michael – the point with the Phillies is, they’re trying to make moves to repeat as champions again, while the Braves will at best be making moves that *might* get them into the postseason this year.
I read somewhere over the weekend (MLB TradeRumors, perhaps?) that Pedro hit 93 on the gun in his sim game in from of the Phillies – so I wouldn’t be quick to dismiss the impact he could have on the Phils if he is healthy again.
Put Halladay & Pedro into the mix with Hamels, and they could make noise again in the playoffs.
mike
July 13th, 2009
3:48 pm
I thought all stadiums had the waves.
But Atlanta fans do suck. I am one, and I don’t. But the rest of them do.
I went to a Red Sox game last year; everyone was yelling, cheering, and having a great time. Everyone at a Braves game silently golf claps, then prays to thank Jesus whenever our lousy offense actually gets a hit.
Chris
July 13th, 2009
3:58 pm
I think about 15% of the fans at Turner Field know to clap after a Braves sacrifice bunt.
sidslid
July 13th, 2009
4:13 pm
“Who’s your daddy?” doesn’t quite resonate in the mediocre NL East.
jimmya
July 13th, 2009
4:15 pm
maybe one day WREN will get a few hitters that can avarage 275 15 or 20hr 65 to 80 rbis 90% of major league teams do oh well FIRE WREN
jimmya
July 13th, 2009
4:22 pm
philly even taking to tommy g
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 13th, 2009
4:23 pm
Pedro no help, Halladay, maybe gets them past the Dodgers. Either way, no matter what the Braves do, Phillies win the division. Agree Braves fans are weak. Red Sox fans watch the game and sing “Sweet Caroline” Awesome
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 13th, 2009
4:23 pm
Oh yeah, Boston does a weak a** waive. Seattle actually may do the best wave.
Shoeless Joe Jackson
July 13th, 2009
4:30 pm
The wave is an abomination from Hell.
Adam
July 13th, 2009
4:33 pm
Braves fans- wake up and smell the winning coffee the phillies are brewing. I know bitterness may adhere this ability but let’s be honest, the phillies won a world series with one true starting pitcher, Cole Hammels, and some miraculous performances by 1 mediocre pitcher, Blanton, and 2 pitchers, Moyer, Kendrik, who would not see the inside of a baseball stadium on any other MLB team unless they bought a ticket. The addition of a definite hall of fame pitcher would give education to a young bull pen which include such prospects as Bastardo to form them into consitent performers. And the addition the best pitcher baseball would provide a one-two punch of Hammels and Halladay no team in the NL could possibly beat in a 7 game series. With the lineup stepping out of their slump to become a team of consistent hitters, and these trade rumors work out, it looks like another Pennant inevitable and increases the possiblity of consecutive World Series rings.
Chris
July 13th, 2009
4:33 pm
Yankees fans are the best I’ve encountered from going to about 10 parks.
Sure, sure, lay on the Northerner hate, but in terms of baseball knowledge, Atlanta fans don’t hold a candle to what you see in Yankee Stadium.
Mac
July 13th, 2009
4:37 pm
A miracle could happen and the Braves could make the playoffs this year. But, this is most likely the start of a rebuilding process that should result in playoff contention next year … and likely for a few more after that. Don’t know that we’ll ever see a 14-year run of excellence again. Nobody had before. I’m grateful to have seen it, considering I saw “One Crazy Summer” and many other futile ones that preceded it.
Mike Vick
July 13th, 2009
4:39 pm
Dogfighting been very, very good to me.
Jeff Schultz
July 13th, 2009
4:51 pm
Michael – if you don’t think Halladay is a “needle mover” you’re missing something. Do you realize what he does for their rotation in the post-season?
Ghost of Frenchy – Sorry. Don’t know what I was thinking.
Bucky – Congrats. You’ve come a long way. Next week we work with finger puppets.
JImmya – Not sure but I think Tommyg thing is over and done.
BF91
July 13th, 2009
4:53 pm
Let the Phillies rape their farm system for a year and a half of Halladay just like we did for Teixeira. They’ll regret the move in 2-3 years, just like we are now with the Tex deal. Our future stars will be here mid-way through 2010 and the Phillies will have sent all their top prospects to Toronto.
Bama Aaron
July 13th, 2009
4:58 pm
Don’t care if they get Pedro. I think he’s long since been out of gas. Halliday is a whole different ball game. They get him we’re probably not catching them this year. But unless our bullpen stops giving away games in the 7th & 8th innings we’re not catching them anyway.
Matt Holliday
July 13th, 2009
5:25 pm
I want to come to the Atlanta and play for the Braves.
lee
July 13th, 2009
5:36 pm
I really don’t think the Phillies have what it takes to get Halliday. I really don’t think it will happen. If it did it would be a huge boost to them, but I seriously doubt they can get it done.
Jeff Schultz
July 13th, 2009
6:02 pm
Matt — It is scary how much power I have, but I just don’t think commenting on my blog is going to get the deal done.
Einstein
July 13th, 2009
6:06 pm
Are Bobby Cox and Roger McDowell the only people in the universe that think Manny I’ll Cost Ya is capable of pitching in the major leagues? You don’t have to be me to see that Acosta 1) can’t handle pressure, 2) can’t find the strike zone, and 3) has only one pitch. Since it took Cox, a self-admitted genius, 3 years to discover that Reitzma (sp), Yates, and Boyer were less than marginal pitchers, I guess we’ll see Manny blow 7 or 8 more games before they let him go. And, how much longer do we have to see Moylan? Do these guys have pictures of Bobby helping a sheep over the fence? Peace.
eastbound and down
July 13th, 2009
6:07 pm
jerky schultz, nice of you to come back from vacation (or coma) and write a blog about the phillies…since the discussion about these two players going to the phillies has been on espn for the past week, you must consider this quite a scoop. i guess we can expect a mike vick topic next, or news that the falcons traded favre to the packers.
Chad
July 13th, 2009
7:36 pm
Will somebody please start a FIREBOBBYCOX.com!
Chad
July 13th, 2009
7:43 pm
Why won’t any Atlanta announcer or sportswriter question Bobby Cox outright?
This is a professional sports team and questionable moves, such as the bullpen management should be answered for.
What is everbody afraid of? This has been going on since the early 90’s and I am tired of it. I believe I am in the majority.
Granted, he may be a good manager of personalities; but this is a professional baseball team whose sole purpose should be to win championships, not get along well with each other.
I apologize, but enough is enough and I may watch the rest of the season with one eye closed or do like a lot of others and turn away completely. Selah
Flounder
July 13th, 2009
8:00 pm
Chad,
The Atlanta media–sportswriters, beat writers and especially the TV broadcasters are intimidated by Bobby. They are about as tough as a newborn sheep (baaaa) The radio guys will take a potshot at him now and then but they don’t have to work with him on a daily basis.
J Focht
July 13th, 2009
8:04 pm
The Phillies rotation will be dank if they get Halladay, especially in the post season when you only need to throw 4 guys. Hamels, Halladay, Martinez, and Happ/Blanton. The odd man out moves to the bullpen with Moyer. Now your bullpen is off the hook as well: Happ or Blanton, Moyer, Park, Romero, Madson, Erye, Durbin, and Lidge! WOW!!! Can you say BACK-TO-BACK BABY!
mudcat
July 13th, 2009
8:05 pm
Here comes the 2009 Atlanta Braves fire sale! Nothing we do is working. Frenchy is hitting .444, while Church is hitting. How does that work for you? Start reloading for the future. We have valuable parts so use them. Don’t gut the team, but prep up for 2010.
Tbone Money
July 13th, 2009
8:14 pm
hey JS…..Eastbound and Down just dissed you real bad. Actually he’s on the money. Are you not gonna respond?…No coconuts?
BravesFan79
July 13th, 2009
8:22 pm
If i was the Phillies id trade half my farm system for Roy Holliday. Ive thought he was the best pitcher in all of baseball for the past few years and was BEGGING for the Braves to trade for him a few summers ago. Pedro wont help all that much, but the Phillies getting Holliday is equal to the Braves getting Maddux back in 93. Except Holliday WILL be a Dominating postseason pitcher on Smoltzs level!
BravesFan79
July 13th, 2009
8:32 pm
When Acosta allowed those 3 runs in the last game wasnt that the 3rd game in a row he pitched in? So Bobby dosent trust him for half the season then like a genious throws the poor guy out there night after night after night and everyone jumps on him saying he sucks.
The same thing goes for Gonzo, who i think is one of the best relievers in the NL.
Bobby HAS to stop using Gonzo and Soriano in the same game! Especially with a 3 or 4 run lead.
Jeff R
July 13th, 2009
8:34 pm
If the Phils swing Halladay, it’ll be quite a catch. If the Phils are leading the East without much pitching, imagine what upgrading to Halladay will mean for them.
As to Halladay being a rental, not likely. I can’t imagine the Phillies paying a steep price for Toronto’s ace only to see him slip away via free agency. They have the budget to lock down Halladay – or at least compete strongly for his services.
Jeff Schultz
July 13th, 2009
8:51 pm
CHAD, FLOUNDER — If you guys are so up for a fire Cox website, do it yourself. You’re clearly such bright guys, given your conclusion that if I don’t rip the guy, I must be afraid of him. Yes, he’s intimidates me. That’s it. Excuse me now. I’m due back on Earth.
MUDCAT: It will be interesting to see if the Braves don’t come out of the gate fast after the AS break, whether Wren starts dealing for next year.
TboneMoney: Some things just aren’t worth responding to. Not a big enough challenge. Plus, I figure he/she has enough issues in their life. At least, that’s the only explanation I can come up with.
JeffR — If I’m Halladay, I’d sign long term with Philly. They’re going to be good for a while.
Chop It Up All-star
July 13th, 2009
9:07 pm
The Halladay signing is the key. The Phillies are good right now in spite of their pitching, but if they get a guy like Halladay, wow that would be scary. Of course, all the Braves have to do is run Kawakami out there against him and we’ll be fine.
jimmy
July 13th, 2009
9:15 pm
braves need a bat ,please find one ,i don’t want to watch a phillies world series
NRBQ
July 13th, 2009
9:31 pm
BravesFan79.
You ARE the only one saying Roy Holliday is “the best pitcher in the all of baseball.”
Jeff and the rest of these guys are talking about Roy Halladay
Sonny Clusters
July 13th, 2009
9:58 pm
We was thinking how hard it must be to be a journalist that has to write three blogs a day knowing that Jeff had went to the Mets and he was in about all the stories on these blogs for a long time. When we was playing ball together back in school Jeff was always wanting to be in the paper but Coach wouldn’t let him talk to the reporters because Jeff wasnt real street smart when talking with reporters and they could trick him into saying stuff that came out stupid. He was still talking like that long after we was out of school. That didnt seem to bother the Braves none though.
Chad
July 13th, 2009
9:59 pm
Flounder, I think we struck a nerve. The truth hurts….
Shultz, I wasn’t necessarily talking about you, but if the shoe fits…
I just care about the suffering fans out there and we need a voice.
the truth...
July 13th, 2009
10:50 pm
Franceour 4 for 9….Church 1 for 9…..
Priceless….Wren is the man!!!
Flounder
July 13th, 2009
11:02 pm
We aren’t asking for a “Fire Cox” column….just an occasional tough question or observation. You know…like the big boys do it in New York, Philly, Boston and L.A.
DirtyDawg
July 13th, 2009
11:03 pm
Seems to me the last time the Braves faced Halladay they beat him. So who’s to say we wouldn’t beat him with the Phillies? And as for Pedro, him and Smoltz should have hung it up before the season – that way they can go into the HOF at the same time as Maddux and Glavine.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 14th, 2009
12:50 am
Pedro doesn’t concern me because I’ll believe it when I see the man pitch.
Roy Halliday is a different matter altogether. He’s an ACE and I’m talking bonafide, lights out top of the line number one starter. But this is the scary part, Halliday has a no trade clause. It’s rumored that in order for Halliday to waive it, he will ask for a contract extension into 2012 or later.
Can we as Braves fans envision Roy Halliday and Cole Hamels for the next four and a half seasons in Philly? That is intimidating to say the least.
Cardog10
July 14th, 2009
1:55 am
Oh. My. God. They are getting Pedro? Did I really see this crap on the front page of the AJC? Even the pathetic Mets didn’t want Pedro. I hope they pick him home, Chipper owns him… he was never successful against us. COOL STORY! We had some close, unnecessary losses- like the last game… I can easily think of 5 of games we SHOULD have won. We just swept the Phils, and should’ve swept them the first series. I love our outfriend, Church and McLouth are a great fit. We have a great team… I hope we surprise some folks, including our own Yankee AJC Sports writers.
El Bravo
July 14th, 2009
6:06 am
Jeff, the bigger question is, what should the Braves do? As you mentioned in a previous blog the Braves are an average team with no space to take up additional payroll. It seems to me that the time is now to become sellers and our biggest asset is starting pitching. Should we dangle Kawakami? Lowe? both? That would open up spots for Medlen and Hudson (when he comes back) plus open up payroll to pursue a bat next year…
PhilliePhan
July 14th, 2009
8:30 am
I agree about Martinez but apparently we are getting him very cheap. He just wants to pitch again so it is worth the risk versus rewards ratio. As for Halladay, the playoffs is the reason for going after him. If the Phils can start Halladay, Hamels, and Blanton in the playoffs they will be in very good shape. If they do not give up Happ in the deal the rotation down the stretch would be deadly with Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Happ and Moyer/Martinez as the #5.
Croaker
July 17th, 2009
11:22 am
Philly needs to aquire Holladay and sign him to a 4 year deal. With Moyer at 46 yrs old and done after next year, they need Holladay to provide mentoring to the young pitching staff they have for the future. With Hollady, it could possibly be 2 World Series Rings at least with the Bats behind him.
Ryan Braun
July 23rd, 2009
4:26 pm
Brewers need him most. We have our ace Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra (who just came back from the minors) and thats about it for our starting pitching. Last year it was a huge confidence boost when C.C. was signed to us. I think it will do the same with Halladay if we get him.