The City of Doctorly Love

Despite being in first place and ten games above .500, the Philadelphia Phillies aren't sitting back and doing nothing. Pedro Martinez will be taking a physical tomorrow and if all goes well signing a contract shortly there after.

Kyle Drabek, coming off a solid outing in the MLB Futures Game yesterday has all but made himself untouchable. The Phils still have the pieces to go out and make a play for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. Halladay has said he would welcome a trade to the Senior Circuit especially if it gave him a shot at a World Series ring. As a player with 10 years Major League service and 5 with the same team, Doc can veto any trade agreed upon. With this kind of bargaining power, I would take advantage of it and demand some things from Philadelphia.

We've all seen how awesome the Blue Jays look when they wear their 1993 World Series uniforms. The powder blue blue jay is one of the best logos ever constructed. So if I'm Doc Halladay, I would tell Phillies GM Ruben Amaro that I would agree to come to Philly only if the Phils bring back the maroon unis on home games when I'm pitching. It's a simple request and one that the city of Philadelphia has been clamoring for all season. 

Halladay would be the right-handed Steve Carlton. Imagine a rotation with righties Roy Halladay, Pedro Martinez and Joe Blanton and lefties Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and J.A. Happ. Happ would likely get kicked to the bullpen as would Brett Myers if/when he returns from hip surgery in September. It wouldn't surprise me if the Phils made a run at former Blue Jays closer BJ Ryan as well. It never hurts to have an extra lefty in the 'pen. 

Do it Doc. It can't hurt to ask. It would make the perfect transition to the NL. The Phillies can't waste this opportunity. A pitcher of Halladay's caliber don't come around often. This is why you build the farm system. The Phils will get a good look at him tomorrow evening when Halladay toes the slab in the All-Star game. And with five Phillies taking hacks against him and Charlie watching from the dugout, I expect the recruitment process to be heavy.