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Here we go again......
The Roy Halladay sweepstakes are back to where they were last July.
The Phillies and Angels again have emerged as the front-runners in trade discussions for the Blue Jays' ace right-hander, according to major-league sources.
The Phillies, one source said, are offering a package of young players, likely including left-hander J.A. Happ and one of two outfielders, Domonic Brown or Michael Taylor.
The Angels, as first reported by the Toronto Sun, are offering left-hander Joe Saunders, shortstop Erick Aybar and minor-league center fielder Peter Bourjos.
The Jays, weighing three- and four-team scenarios in an attempt to maximize their assets, likely would spin Saunders to another club for additional parts.
Trade talks are fluid, and other names likely are in play. Halladay's approval is needed for any deal, and he likely will require a contract extension to waive his no-trade clause.
The Phillies almost certainly would need to clear payroll space simply to acquire Halladay, perhaps by trading right-hander Joe Blanton, who figures to earn approximately $7 million in salary arbitration.
However, purging Blanton would not provide enough of a savings, one source said. The acquisition of Halladay, who will earn $15.75 million next season, would push the Phillies well beyond their budget limit, and other moves would be required.
At the same time, signing Halladay to an extension would give the Phillies protection against the possible loss of left-hander Cliff Lee to free agency after next season.
The Angels, meanwhile, are angling for Halladay while also trying to re-sign the best starting pitcher on the free-agent market, right-hander John Lackey. If they retained Lackey, they could pull out of the Halladay talks without losing any players.
All of the players under discussion from both the Angels and Phillies were part of the Halladay talks involving the respective clubs last July. But Halladay, entering the final year of his contract, does not have the same trade value he did then.
If either the Phillies or Angels lands him, they will give up less than they would have before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
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