FoxSports.com's' Ken Rosenthal has a "hunch" that the Phillies could try to move left-hander Cliff Lee in a three- or four-team trade that will help them land Halladay, the pitcher they initially preferred but could not acquire at the 2009 trade deadline.
Instead, Philadelphia got Lee. Now, he could be on his way elsewhere.
Last week, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. met with Lee's agent to try to hammer out a contract extension, but the talks reportedly may not have gone as planned. Rosenthal also says that Halladay will need a contract extension before he waives his no-trade clause, and the Phillies — who would be willing to give him one – would come away with long-term control over the ace they wanted in the first place: Halladay, not Lee.
Here's how Rosenthal proposes the multiteam trade would work: The Phillies would send Lee elsewhere for prospects, then spin those prospects around in order to pry Halladay from Toronto. The Phillies wouldn't have to part with their own prized prospects, and they'd be unloading Lee's $9 million salary, and if they acquired Halladay, the Jays would be willing to pay a portion of the $15.75 million he is owed in 2010.
The pieces are all in place for Halladay to head to Philly. Everything makes sense. Now let's see if Rosenthal's prophecy comes true.
