Rosenthal: Halladay Deal Won't Happen Soon

Ken Rosenthal explains on Fox Sports today why he thinks that any talks to acquire Toronto's Roy Halladay will likely take longer than what Boston is hoping for. He starts out the article by saying that discussions for the right-hander could mirror the Johan Sanatana talks if Halladay would only waive his if he got a contract extension, which will likely be the case.

He goes on to discuss how the Jays interest in Boston prospect Casey Kelly, and Boston's reluctance to deal him, will likely keep the talks between Boston and Toronto going for some time.

He also explains why Toronto has no need to rush into things:

The Jays, on the other hand, need not accept an inferior package for Halladay. They can keep him next season, offer him salary arbitration after he becomes a free agent and receive two high picks in return. Halladay's trade value is at least the talent equivalent of the two high picks.

And also hints at Boston's reasons for trying to push for a quick deal:

The Red Sox would be wise to push hard for a rapid resolution on Halladay at a time when the Yankees have yet to set their budget for next season. Santana, though, was not traded until Feb. 2 in the 2007-08 offseason. The Twins' Bill Smith was a new G.M., just like the Jays' Alex Anthopoulos is now.

That makes sense, hopefully Anthopoulos is smart and waits until the Yankees get into the bidding. At the very least it will drive up the price for the Red Sox.

Rosenthal concludes by stating that while Toronto is motivated to move Halladay that these "will be complex, tricky, multi-layered negotiations." And it would be "an upset" if they ended quickly. I agree.

Wednesday Night Open Thread: The Decade's Top Dingers

Big League Stew came out with their list of the top 10 home runs of the 2000's. There were a couple Yankees on the list; Aaron Boone's shot off Wakefield in game 7 of the '03 ALCS came in at number two, and Derek Jeter becoming Mr. November was sixth.

Homers from Matsui, Teixeira, and A-Rod from this year's playoffs, Brosius's shot off Kim in '01, and Soriano's walk-off agianst the Mariners in the '01 ALCS made the just missed list.

The top homer of the decade went to Barry Bonds, and his 756th home run. You can check out the whole list here.

That'll be it for this brief open thread. Anyone doing anything interesting for the holiday tomorrow?

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving.

Yanks Make A Minor Move

It was reported today by Ken Davidoff that the Yankees have signed outfielder Jon Weber to a minor league contract with an invitation to major-league spring training. This winter he's been playing for Venados de Mazatlan of the Mexican Winter League. In 15 games he's hitting .455/.471/.682 with 3 HR and 19 RBI. In 117 games for the triple-A Durham Bulls this season the 31-year-old hit .302/.382/.497 with 14 HR and 69 RBI. He hasn't made a MLB appearance and has spent the last decade in the minors.

Duncan Now A Free Agent

After being outrighted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, Shelley Duncan has elected to become a free agent and is now available for any team to sign.

In two stints this season with the Yankees, hit just .200 (3-for-15) with one RBI n 11 games. but was named International League MVP after a great year in Scranton.

Good luck Shelley, hopefully he can catch on somewhere.

Damon To Yanks: I Want To Stay

Yesterday, Johnny Damon was back in the city for an event on top of the Empire State Building, where he and four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to flip the switch and light up the top of the building in Johnson's No. 48 team's blue, white and yellow.

During the event he was asked by the media about Johnson and his four straight championships and a possible return to the Yankees.

"Hopefully, if I'm part of the Yankees, we can say four's going to happen."

Asked if that means that he is looking for a three-year deal to stay in pinstripes, Damon delivered a message to Yankees GM Brian Cashman.

"I know what's here in New York - you have the new Stadium, you have the great coaches, you have the great players," Damon said. "You guys just have to tell Cash to get things going with me. I'm up for it."

Damon also said that he has value if he returns in recruiting players like he did with Sabathia and Burnett last offseason.

While I like the fact that he's saying these things and showing that he wants to return, no matter what he says he's still going to sign with whatever team gives him the best deal.

Red Sox "Putting On A Full-Court Press" To Acquire Halladay

From Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden:

The Red Sox are "putting on a full-court press" to acquire Roy Halladay, according to a source, and are hoping to add the former Cy Young winner to the top of their rotation to go with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

"They would love to get it wrapped up before the winter meetings (beginning Dec. 7)," the source said of the Red Sox, who made a big push to deal for Halladay last summer.

The article goes on to speculate that Boston would probably have to give up Clay Buchholz along with minor leaguer pitcher/shortstop, Casey Kelley.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is said to be smitten with Kelly, which could be a sticking point in talks with Toronto if Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos insists on the 20-year-old being included in a deal.

I absolutely hate the idea of the Red Sox getting Halladay. With Halladay, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka they would have the best top four starters in any rotation in baseball. And with Boston "smitten" with Halladay it will bring up the price if the Yankees get into the mix.

Also, if Boston does land the right-hander I think it would force the Yankees to get even more seriously involved in the John Lackey sweepstakes.

AFL Pitcher's Velocity Breakdown

Baseball America (hat-tip to Chad Jennings) posted their velocity information for the now completed Arizona Fall League. Here's the info they have on the Yankees pitchers who took part in the AFL:

Fastball Max velocity and average velocity

Ian Kennedy – 93.4 max, 90.66 ave.
Zach Kroenke — 93.1 max, 90.62 ave.
Mike Dunn — 96.6 max, 93.85 ave.
Grant Duff — 96.3 max, 93.39 ave.

Since there is so much hype behind him, I'll post Steven Strasburg's veleocity as well:

Steven Strasburg: 100.5 max, 96.78 ave.

Tuesday Night Open Thread: Yanks Sign Dominican Prospect

- Baseball America is reporting that the Yankees have signed Dominican center fielder Eladio Moronta, and the deal was confirmed by a team official.

MLB had suspended Moronta for one year earlier this year for misrepresenting his age, then lifted the suspension on September 28 after Moronta admitted he was 20 years old, not 17.

Moronta, who turns 21 on December 16, is a 6-foot-1, 183-pound righthanded hitter with plus-plus speed, a strong arm and projectable power.

All I know about the kid is that he was suspended for five months after lying about his age.

- According to the NY Post, "a Yankees official said there was nothing to the talk that the club had a serious interest in free agent outfielder/DH Jermaine Dye". Some fans have mentioned his name as a candidate for DH or even left if Damon and/or Matsui don't come back.

- Johnny Damon's wife, Michelle, told Newsday that three teams have already called Johnny to discuss his services for the 2010 season. The left fielder also is looking for something long-term, which the Yankees aren't going to do.

- The Yankees and Red Sox will not meet this year during spring training, not sure why.

- Mark Feinsand has some images of the new 2009 Yankees display at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Check it out.

Enjoy your night.

Yanks, Pettitte, Not Close To Deal

Since the World Series ended almost 3 weeks ago, there has been very little news regarding talks with free-agents Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, or Andy Pettitte on potential new deals. And today, GM Brian Cashman said that he does not expect to hear from Pettitte regarding his future anytime soon.

Andy had a great season this year, going 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 32 starts with the Bombers in his 14th MLB season. But the way the process of negotiations have gone so far, it may be possible that Pettitte is leaning towards hanging 'em up and going out in style.

"I thought Andy was real important to our success," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Monday. "Any time you lose a starting pitcher that gives you 200 innings, that's a hole."

Re-signing Andy Pettitte for next season is key, because then if he does retire, that forces you to go out and sign another pitcher like John Lackey or trade for Roy Halladay. And god for bid the Yanks are unable to get either of them, that would leave just CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett as the only returning pitchers from the rotation that brought a 27th World Championship to the Bronx this fall.

Then you would also have to put either Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain in the rotation, plus a guy like Sergio Mitre or Chad Gaudin. And I know I'm kinda putting the worst-case scenario out there, but simply put - they really need to try to bring back Andy Pettitte.

Pujols Unanimous Pick For NL MVP

Like Joe Mauer yesterday, today's announcement of the NL MVP comes as no surprise. Albert Pujols received all of the possible 32 first-place votes and finished off his third MVP season batting .327/.443/.658 with 47 home runs and 135 RBI. Florida's Hanley Ramirez finished second, with Ryan Howard coming in third. The rest of the voting results can be found here.

No Met received any votes.