Everyone knows pitching wins championships.

Carp…Halladay…Waninwright…Lohse….Pinero….that’s sounds like a championship starting 5 to me.

Go get him Mo!!!!!!

Love Doc Halladay, bring him in and we are talking championships

This would be awesome!!! Bring him on! Very much needed.

I still give this a thin chance of getting done because I suspect Toronto will want at least 3 premium prospects (like some combination of Wallace, Todd, Motte, Jones, and Samuel), and more likely will push for 4 of them. But wouldn’t it be interesting if Carp can help sell STL to Halliday similar to how Matheny did with Carp for 2004? Makes it a little more interesting.

Does anyone really believe we would make a realistic offer? We hear the same thing every year. The Cards are not going to add the payroll or give up the prospects to make this deal happen. I just hope Halladay does not end up in Chicago.

IMO, anyone but Pujols, Carp, Wainwright, Yadi, Rasmus is expendable to get a Halladay type talent.

trade any and all for him except pujols, rasmus, wainwright, & carpenter

Carp/Doc/Waino/Lohse/Pineiro = 11th World Championship

Get it done Mo. We have more talent on the way from the last couple drafts that will ‘restock’ the farm.

Let’s go win a Championship or two!

I like this, in theory…but does it seem suspicious to anyone else that Halladay gets hurt, comes back and struggles, and is suddenly on the block? Even though he’s under contract next year? I just hope it’ s not a Mulder repeat where the Jays know something about the injury and are trying to trade him before it gets worse.

I think the Cardinal’s already blew their proverbial wad on DeRosa. IF they have anything the Jays want to get Halladay and IF the Cards would actually DO IT, I’ll dance a jig….

I agree with Jaime’s thinking. How about that pitching rotation in a short playoff series! I understand that landing Halladay is a long shot at best — but it’s sure as hell fun to think about. The Cardinals are still searching for consistency offensively … but how much offense would you need with a rotation headed by Halladay, Carpenter and Wainwright! You’re basically addressing your issues on offense by upgrading your pitching! And it’s not like the offense isn’t getting better as Ludwick and Rasmus are stepping up. Go Cards!

Get it done Mo! There’s no guarantee that any of these blue chip prospects will materialize into above average major league talent. With that said - I’d be shocked if the front office pulled the trigger. It just goes again everything we’ve been told about their new direction. Please.. Shock me!!

Pitching wins championships 99% of the time. Five quality starters always give you a chance to win every series, no matter how many games it is. Think seven game series and Carp, Doc, Waino getting the ball.

Not saying adding Halladay would not be awesome, but they need a big bat more than a big time pitcher.

I made a post on a related article yesterday and I have to say that I’m a little more optimistic after reading Mo’s comments just now. Say what you want about Mo, but he’s not an idiot. He’s not going to publicly confirm that we’re interested in Halladay unless he’s serious about taking a legit run and him. I can guarantee that Mo has a general idea about what the Jays will want in return and based on his comments today, it seems that he is willing to deal a couple promising prospects.

All that being said, we get Halladay, that pretty much locks up the Central in my mind, and the Carp, Roy, Waino, Lohse, Joel rotation would be truly unstoppable in the playoffs. I agree with what several others have said: Halladay comes to St. Louis, we win it all this year. Prove it to Albert that you recognize his once in a generation talent and you’ll do whatever it takes to get as many championships as possible while he’s around.

They will never spend the money. They got Carpenter and Pujols to work for a discount. how would they explain to them that they are giving Halladay more money than them?

stubbyclapp;Our chances might be a little better because i doubt toronto will trade roy to the yanks or redsox in their own div.and you know they would rather send him to the NL.What scares me is the brewers getting him or the dodgers really.So i say make it happen MO,Id let them pick any 4 minor leaguers that they want.

Adding Halladay does not guarantee a championship, he’s in his 30’s, and giving away 3-4 of the teams top prospects to get him is not necessarily a great deal. It’s a bit high risk if you ask me and I still feel burned from the whole Mulder exp. I’d rather have them pick up another bat (i.e. Holliday) and try to pick up another starter after the season.

Wellemeyer is clearly not a long term option, but once KL is back on Sunday I can’t say that Wellemeyer is anyworse than some of the other 5th starters out there (and yes, I did watch the game last night and cannot believe I just said this–someone please just shoot me when he pitches 4 innings over the next three starts).

Additionally, getting Duncan, Ankiel, and Thurston out of the line-up would be fantastic. Remember, there is no guarantee that Glaus returns to 15-20 homer format for the remainder of the season.

What better way to send a message to Albert that we want to win than lock up one of the best rotations in baseball through 2010. We’d be contenders this year and next year. Why not?

Get him and I say you can print the playoff tickets. Under contract for next year and season ticket sales and individual game tickets go up next year.
Sounds like a win win.
As far as giving up prospects, well, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Zero chance of this happening but I bet we come in second place on getting him.

With a starting rotation of Carpenter, Halliday, Wainwright, Lohse, and Piniero, the necessary offense would be so minimal that it might not matter who plays shortstop, 3B, or left field. Albert along with Schumacher, Ludwick, Rasmus, and Molina could probably handle it alone. The Cardinals have a history of spending huge if the player is special enough. Halliday is special. It would be a great love affair with the StL fans. Please, Chris Carpenter, talk your friend into it!

Three or Four top prospects is too much.
Give them choice of 2 and throw in Duncan.
Ta-Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Not going to hold me breath on this one….although it WOULD be amazing! Even better if we can ship Lil’ Duncan outta here!

Unfortunately, he’ll probably go to the Mets, Phillies or Cubs. Let’s hope Toronto hijacks one of these org.’s future in the process, and Halliday goes Mulder on them.

This is the sort of thing that Mo needs to do on his own and keep quiet about it. He doesn’t have to announce to the world that we are now pursueing Halladay. It would be a great acquisition if he can pull it off, however, it is most likely not going to happen. All this just makes for great fodder. I’d like to see him pick up another bat, more than anything else.

I feel like 4-5 “top” prospects is a bit much, especially with him being a bit shaky since returning from injury. Give them 2-3 and a few others we could live without (Dunc, Ank, Thurston, whatever). I still doubt we get him but I really don’t want to see this guy in a Cubs, Phillies, or Dodgers uniform. YIKES.

Guys remember these prospects are just that unproven talent.your talking about a number one starter,oh yeah that would give us 3 number ones and the best starting pitching since the braves had their big 3.Dont hesitate mo and let the brewers slide in there or the dodgers.This is the move that can highlight your career make you a very rich man as a top gm in the league.Not to mention my best buddy ever!

I’m sure many of us are a bit “jaded” over the Mulder fiasco
but no matter whether they do or don’t,
I’m still a Redbirds fan.
I feel sorry for those poor saps that root for the other guys.
Giants? yeah, right.
Royals? Puh-lease!
Yankees? Screw em and their gazillions!!
Birds-on-the-bat for me…Viva El Birdos!!

Yes, this is the correct Halladay to go after. Not the Coors inflated OF who is doing nothing special this season, and set to become a very rich FA OF.

I now live in California, but I was born and bred in Missouraaaaa, So SHOW ME!!!!!

For even most good pitching I’d say no, But this is a unique pitcher, better track record than CC from last year.
RH finishes games, throws 7-9 consistant. Low ERA High K
and works quickly.
Add to his talent he is signed through 2010, he is not a rent.
You figure in the salary the team will dump next off season and even his increase is a push, where would you rather spend that money? No hitting FA will be on the market so easily available.
It does send a message to AP.
It makes the entire Central shudder.
It takes this team with this hitting a true rival to the Doggies for postseason. LA has needs that they can not afford.
Pitching wins in postseason.
Cards dont really have a position for Wallace, as good as he seems he will be, there is nothing to say he will be as good a hitter as RH is a SP.
Throw in PKozuma , and the teams top Catcher prospect, they need a cather, ss and a first baseman in future.
These three get him. Well maybe one more single A
If the team is not willing to give up Wallace, I fear they are hedging against AP leaving and having Wallace at first after.
This is a deal that can be done and makes sense for the next two years both financially and on the field.
There is no downside as two years from now the team makes two WS runs, two drafts from now, two free agent seasons from now.. its all in the future, win while you can and have AP at the top of his game.
WIN!

Who needs Halladay. We’ve got Wellemeyer. And after that SUPERB performance last night, Mo would be a fool not to keep that RELIEVER in the starting rotation. LMFAO

Hope springs eternal…but we ain’t gonna get Holliday… I wish we could, but I don’t see it. As far as the worry about the Cubs getting him, they do not have much to give either!

I’d love to see them do the deal, but not at the cost a 4-5 prospects. Wallace and Todd with one or two lower rated minor league players (or a couple of these major league duds we have playing outfield now) Why should we facilitate a massive salary dump for them and get Memphis raped in the process? Let us not forget, Toronto wants to trade him. That means they’re going to have to be reasonable to a degree. If they hold on to him untill next year his value will drop severely due to his being a rental. Rental players don’t have nearly the value in today’s economy and Riccardi knows it, hence halliday being on the block now. I say to put a deal on the table and put a timer on it. Either they take it or they don’t, but at least you tried

This is definitely a longshot, but in thinking about it there’s one reason this is at least *possible*. Simply put, our top draft picks from 2007 and 2008 just don’t fit all that well here. Wallace is a 50/50 bet at best to stick at third and I just can’t believe he has a future playing 1B in St. Louis. Pete Kozma’s value to the organization has dropped recently with Brendan Ryan playing brilliantly at short. In this economy, with teams reluctant to give up prospects at all and doubly so for a pitcher owed $7 million for the rest of 2009 and $15+ million in 2010, offering those two might be a viable starting point. Unfortunately, the emphasis is on “starting point”.

This move would rock the foundation of Cardinals History. No brainer if we have the prospects they are looking for.

Halladay has been the best pitcher in baseball over the last 6-7 years and still has at least 1 1/2 years left.

Please stop comparing Halladay (now) to Mulder (then)… not even close.

Pujols.

Please, do you really think this bunch would agree to take on a 20 million per year pitcher in their 30’s

Go get him!

Don’t forget Halliday has a no trade clause… Carp needs to convince him to reject all other offers and force Toronto’s hand. Now the odds really go up because money isn’t what is on his mind at this point… it’s winning. Best pitcher in baseball with the best hitter, plus the other studs in the starting rotation… top WS contender for at least 09 & 10. Whatever works Carp… here’s hoping.

The Halladay trade can be made, & it can be done without losing the players that St. Louis will need to replace spots on the roster in 2010 & 2011. The big money issue on Halladay would be playing him his pro-rated contract for the remainder of 2009, as enough money will be freed up by free agents to pay Halladay in 2010.

St. Louis sends to Toronto a 5-player offer, giving Toronto a choice on each spot::
Player 1: SP Joel Piniero, SP/RP Todd Wellemeyer, SP/RP Brad Thompson.
Player 2: SP Blake Hawksworth, SP Mitchell Boggs, RP Fernando Salas.
Player 3: OF/1B Chris Duncan, OF Jon Jay, OF Daryl Jones.
Player 4: OF/1B Chris Duncan, OF Nick Stavinoha, 1B Mark Hamilton.
Player 5: SS Brian Barden, SS Tyler Greene, SS Pete Kozma.

St. Louis would lose Halladay after 2010 and get the Player A type free agent draft picks that come with it. St. Louis would then have Halladay’s contract off the books giving them the money to make Albert Pujols a Cardinals for life.

I guess the old saying of you can never have enough pitching is true!! This would be great! I wouldn’t want to trade too many guys off the current roster, only because it could screw up chemistry! And if we gave up Colby, who would play CF? Ankiel? I think not! I do like the fact that they are still thinking of grabbing some more guys! I would think a hitter would still be the first priority!! Lets try to keep our fingers crossed that one or all of the hurt third basemen will return!

I hate to say this but for all you who keep listing Carp, Halladay, you must know that Halladay becomes our #1 starter hands down. Maybe 2.5 years ago you could make the argument that Carp is better but not today. But it would be an amazing argument to have lets all get on our knees and pray for this deal.

er, “Brian Fuentes (ca. 2008),” anyone???

Wow, this would be an awesome rotation……..we would be on our way and the envy of the division, I think we better hurry for someone like Jocketty beats us to it, this seems like something he would pull…………GO MO!!!

Getting Mark DeRosa was GOOD. No one can help that he got hurt. I still think the Cardinals need to trade for MATT HOLLIDAY to go with LUDWICK & RASMUS in the outfield. Roy Halladay would be nice, but he would pitch 15-17 games the rest of the year. Also he has been hurt & is just comming back,remember Mark Mulder?? Great trade at that time till he got hurt again. Matt Holliday would play 70-80 games. The Cardinals need a BAT more than they need pitching. I do hope they sign B.J.Ryan and send him to Memphis.

Watching the Cardinals game this afternoon, Al Hrabosky said that MO told him the reason the Cardinals kept running Todd Wellemeyer out there as a starting pitcher is we dont have anyone better in the minors or on the major league roster as a # 4-5 pitcher?? What happened to Mitch Boggs,Blake Hawksworth,P.J.Walters,Clayton Mortensen,Jesse Todd,Trey Hearne? Pedro Martinez could be signed for the rest of the year.

Perhaps Mo has no intention at all of trading for Halladay, but is instead trying - by feigning interest in Halladay - to smoke out a hitter from another team who may grow concerned that the Cardinals best prospects are about to be dealt away in a potential Halladay deal.

Michael Scrivan……Mitchell Boggs and Daryl Jones have too much value to the organization. Both have the chance to be be productive on the big league team.

Personally, I’d the team to after a nice, big bat instead. A stronger offense would make our entire pitching staff better. Overall, this pitching staff is pretty solid.

A big bat in a trade, and DeRosa coming back healthy, changes the lineup drastically.

GOOD point itty bitty baseball. Oakland are you ready to trade Matt Holliday yet? Rockies how about Garrett Atkins? I did read somewhere that the Blue Jays were going to try to make any team trading for Matt Halladay take outfielder Alex Rios or Vernon Wells,BUT the Blue Jays would have to pay a LOT of there cxontract.

I liken a Halladay trade to that of CC Sabathia last year. Two high-caliber pitchers who can make a good team great. We all know what Sabathia did to the Brewers a year ago. I have no doubt Halladay could do the same to the Cardinals this year. My only hesitation to going for Halladay would be giving up Wallace. I’d like to see him in a Cardinals uniform because he has an impact bat. Anyone else in minors is fair game.

Eli Greenspan of mlb trade rumors says Cards could probably get Halladay without giving up Wallace..but deal would start with Kozma, Anderson and a couple more prospects, plus as said us assuming large portion if not all of remainging contract..Mo says Glaus could start rehab this weekend in Palm Springs this weekend and possible return to STL in ph role shortly after ASG. Trade for Halladay would demoralize rest of NL Central and Glaus is impact bat perhaps and along with DeRo hopefully give us potent lineup against lefties for a change.

No matter how good a hitter Brett Wallace is, no one seems to think he is a “5-tool” player like Colby Rasmus. If he is weak defensively, then he will probably not be a superstar. Albert is not just a hitter — he is a Gold Glove fielder and he is very smart. The classic Cardinals are the ones who could do everything — Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen, Willie McGee, Larry Walker, etc. If Wallace and Kozma don’t figure to develop into these kinds of players, then it would be worth it to trade them for Halladay. Halladay could give us a golden rotation almost like the Braves’ big 3 from the 90’s. Plus it’s a valuable “intangible” when a player understands what makes the St. Louis tradition special. It seems maybe Halladay does.

I wouldn’t trade Wallace for a 32 yr. old Halladay. Wallace is an 22 yr old absolute hitting machine! I want to see him in a cards uniform someday.

The cards NEED offense to win this year!

wow. 51 comments before anyone even questions if trading away one of the best hitting prospects in baseball to strengthen one of the strongest rotations in baseball is a good idea. i’d like to see halladay in a cardinal uniform, though. but wallace is off the table

“‘Mo’ will ask about Halladay”

Translation: The team will glance in Toronto’s direction, with no intention of making an offer that Ricciardi won’t laugh at.

I don’t think you give up a guy like Wallace in a Halladay deal. It won’t be long ’til Cardinal Nation is going to be watching this guy hitting rockets behind Pujols. Wallace’s bat will carry any liabilities that his glove brings. I think the Cards have enough chips to trade for Holladay without trading their highest prized prospect who is right on the cusp of joining the big club and getting broke in for next year. Wouldn’t it be something to hear a trade for Holladay being announced while the Cards are playing in Chicago. That would have a demoralizing effect on the Cubs…ehhhhhhhh! Could that be in the FO thinking?????

I’d rather have Brett Wallace for the future than a short term rental on Roy Halladay.

there are possibilities of getting halladay, but their are other teams interested. I see the cardinals aquiring Holliday or Dye, but chances for Halladay arent so great, but boy we it be a holiday in st. louis if we could get Holliday and Halladay

Let’s bring Halladay into the rotation and put Thompson back as reliever. Smooth transition. I smell pennent, nlcs, and the big show.

I think an acquisition like this would have a much bigger impact that just the obvious. As some have mentioned it would show a commitment to winning to Albert. Keeping Albert, to me, is worth more than every prospect in our entire system. Like others have said it would also take a lot of pressure off of the offense who seem to be pressing and being far more aggressive than they have in past, more productive, periods. Another thing it would do is improve our bullpen tremendously. Having 5 above average starters to run out every day would obviously reduce innings on the pen but it would also put them in better situations. These improvements are not even considering the fact that acquiring Halladay would prevent Chicago and Milwaukee from using him to overtake our far from comfortable lead in the division. In my opinion, all upside no downside as long as he’s healthy and pitches the way we know he can.

Why not trade Wallace. That tree stump can’t play third, and if we don’t move him for help now, he will be playing first base for us in a couple years when Albert packs up and leaves. If we don’t put a team around Albert soon, and he ends up leaving, I will root against the Cards till the day I die.

Trying to understand why Mitchell Boggs & Daryl Jones would have too much value to the organization and would break a Halladay trade, but someone would be perfectly fine dealing Blake Hawksworth or another Memphis starter or Jon Jay instead? Not talking about mortgaging the future here, but do have to give up something to get something. Otherwise, a proposal of “B” list prospects doesn’t net one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Mo…this would be a Central Division killing. We would dominate the division for AT LEAST 2yrs!!!
AND we would keep Albert on the Cardinals to boot.

Seriously people I know its wise to not get too optimistic in regards to Cardinals brass and their history of not commiting to the big fish, however lets review the reasons on paper as to why Mo should and can get the Halloday deal done.
1) He does in fact need to prove to Pu that were commited to him not wasting his talents in STL by locking up a cy young contender.
2) Hal added to the rotation we have now as everyone smart here realizes would lock up the central and most likely the NLCS as well.
2) Carp is one of Halladays best friends and Hal likes the town which could sweeten the deal for sure.
3) We have Cardinal brass already saying in the Post Dispatch that J.P. Ricciardi(spelling?) can have his pick of any 5 out of ALL our prospects. Suggesting they realize the magnitude of the trade and how easily it could spell out a championship for the team.
4)We have enough prospect talent (and Mo knows it) to deal for Halladay and to replace whoever gets dealt away for Halladay.
5)NLCS=Solid 5 man pitching rotation!