Santa arrived way ahead of schedule Monday, bearing goodies for Harry Leroy “Doc” Halladay.
The strong-armed right-hander, who went 22-1 during his legendary career at Arvada West High School, is on the cusp of being traded to the Phillies. Details of the deal could be finalized today.
But what do you possibly give a 32-year-old man who is contracted to make $15.75 million in 2010? What’s an appropriate stocking stuffer for a pitcher who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2003? When Derek Jeter calls you the best pitcher in baseball, what other worthy presents are left under the tree?
How about a trip to the playoffs? Better yet, how about pitching Game 1 of the World Series?
For 12 stellar seasons, Halladay toiled north of the border for Toronto. Pitching in the American League East against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, Halladay was magnificent. He owns a 148-76 career record with a 3.43 ERA.
But he has never pitched in a single major-league postseason game. Not one. That’s about to change.
The Phillies, second only to the Yankees among the best teams in baseball, are now, more than ever, the clear monsters of the National League.
The Phillies had to give up Cliff Lee to get Halladay. But Sports Illustrated reported that Lee wasn’t going to give Philadelphia a hometown discount, and he becomes a free agent after 2010.
Halladay wanted to go to the Phillies badly enough that he is willing to work out a long-term deal and take less money than either Johan Santana or CC Sabathia, the big guns of the past two offseasons. “Less money” means a reported guaranteed sum of $75.75 million over the next four years.
The ribbon wrapping up this gift is that Halladay clearly wanted to join the Phillies, in part because the team holds spring training in Clearwater, Fla., not far from his offseason home in Oldsmar.
If you’re wondering whether Halladay is getting a little long in the tooth and weak in the right shoulder, you can stop. In 2009, he went 17-10 with the Blue Jays, hurling nine complete games and four shutouts. He pitched 239 innings. He whiffed more than 200 batters in each of the last two seasons.
The former Arvada West Wildcat isn’t just a thrower, he’s a pitcher, capable of getting the rally-killing strikeout or an inning-ending double play.
And for all of you Rockies fans who were dreaming the impossible dream of Halladay coming home to pitch in Colorado, you may get your chance to see him at Coors Field after all. The Phillies come to town May 10-12.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@
