Thursday, December 17, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) — On a day like no other in baseball history, two Cy Young Award winners in their primes changed teams.
The four-club, nine-player megatrade became official Wednesday, with the Toronto Blue Jays sending 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies, who in turn dealt 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners.
Halladay got a $60 million, three-year contract extension through 2013 in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause, and Toronto paid Philadelphia $6 million as part of the swap. Seven prospects changed hands, with Oakland also part of the mix.
“This is where we wanted to be,” Halladay said at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. “It was an easy decision for me. Once the opportunity came up for me to be part of this, it was something I couldn’t pass up.”
Two Cy Young winners had never been traded on the same day. And that wasn’t the only big deal.
Boston finalized an $82.5 million, five-year contract for pitcher John Lackey and a $15.5 million, two-year agreement with outfielder Mike Cameron. The Red Sox also must figure out whether the Mike Lowell-to-Texas trade will go through and have been discussing whether to acquire Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego, a deal that could send Clay Buchholz and/or Jacoby Ellsbury to the Padres.
“I was always interested in coming here. Winning was definitely my first priority of a team to go to,” Lackey said. “I’ve been knocked out of the playoffs a few times by them. I know I’m going to have a chance to win here, and that means a lot.”
World Series MVP Hideki Matsui finalized a $6 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, ending his seven-season run with the New York Yankees.
“This is the beginning of a new journey for me,” Matsui said through a translator. “I’d like to do my best in every way I can to bring another world championship to this team since they won in 2002.”
The Yankees haven’t been close to making any moves since acquiring Curtis Granderson from Detroit last week. New York, which planned to introduce the center fielder on Thursday, is far apart from left fielder Johnny Damon, who has asked for a $39 million, three-year deal.
Also on Wednesday, Milwaukee completed a $7.5 million, two-year contract with reliever LaTroy Hawkins. Detroit agreed to a $2.5 million, two-year deal with infielder Ramon Santiago, who had been eligible for salary arbitration.
The 32-year-old Halladay, who has an offseason home near the Phillies’ spring training complex in Clearwater, Fla., is considered by many the top starting pitcher in the major leagues. He was sent to the two-time NL champions for three minor leaguers: catcher Travis d’Arnaud, right-hander Kyle Drabek and outfielder Michael Taylor.
Philadelphia dealt Lee to Seattle for three prospects: right-hander Phillippe Aumont, outfielder Tyson Gillies and right-hander Juan Ramirez.
Toronto flipped Taylor to the Athletics for minor league third baseman Brett Wallace.
Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. couldn’t afford to add Halladay and keep Lee, who can become a free agent after next season.
“If I had my druthers, I’d love to have both of them on the club,” Amaro said.
Halladay will make $15.75 million next year, and the amount of cash in the deal almost covers the difference in salaries between Lee and Halladay.
“Did I think we’d be getting a guy of this caliber? You always set your expectations high,” Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik said. “We’re really glad it came to fruition.”
Halladay’s extension pays $20 million annually from 2011-13. There is a $20 million option for 2014 that becomes guaranteed if he meets all three of the following: pitches 225 innings in 2013, pitches 415 innings combined in 2012 and 2013 and is not on the disabled list at the end of the 2013 season.