Potential Pitching for Phillies

The trade deadline is looming, and the Phillies are in talks to acquire another pitcher. The question remains: Who will it be? Will we find our Cindarella at the Ball, or end up with a pumpkin after midnight? No one really knows, but here’s an in-depth look at what appear to be the top three targets for the Fightins.

Roy Halladay:

Pros: Halladay is a true workhorse. Lots of innings, complete games, as well as being a dominant force. Has a great selection of pitches, and keeps the ball low, inducing many groundouts. Doesn’t walk many people, and could possibly stay on to re-sign with the Phillies.

Cons: Asking price from the Blue Jays seems very high. The front office might possibly be mortgaging the future of the club if they give up too much to get Halladay. Winning is nice, but not if it’s at the cost of handcuffing us years down the road

Bonus: Halladay is nicknamed ‘Doc’, after Doc Holliday in ‘Tombstone’. Holliday was the fastest gun in the west, constantly drunk, and suffered from consumption (that’s Tuberculosis).

Cliff Lee:

Pros: Basically a cheaper version of Roy Halladay. A tad younger, and possibly cheaper in both salary and prospects needed to trade (talks of a deal without involving Drabek is in the works)

Cons: Quite simply, he’s not Roy Halladay. He’s another lefty in a rotation filled with them, and has the highest ERA of the three targets (although lower than most Phillies starters)

Bonus: Lee’s middle name is ‘Phifer’

Jarrod Washburn

Pros: An even cheaper alternative, but not in value. Washburn sports an ERA of 2.71, despite his career ERA of 4.03. Also issues very few walks (only 30 BB in 126 IP).

Cons: Another pitcher in the same mold as Lee and Halladay, but not as good. Could possibly just be having a career year. We wouldn’t want to sign him and see him unfold like Pat Burrell in Tampa, now would we?

Bonus: Went to college at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (I know it's a stretch, but there is NOTHING interesting about Washburn)