CALL TO ARMS – LEE? (July 29)

  While the Phillies and Blue Jays play chicken over Roy Halladay, Indians lefty Cliff Lee seems more gettable.

That is because Cliff Lee, or Halladay “light”, is a big time pitcher but the Indians would be happy with a high ceiling pitching prospect not named Kyle Drabek. It is reported that they would prefer a Major League ready arm. Which makes Drabek easier to exclude if you’re the Phillies. That is because he is regarded as having MLB talent but a little wet behind the ears to jump right in. He also coming off of Tommy John surgery makes it likely that a team would want to nurture him along. I believe the Phillies see him as 2010 or more likely 2011 at this point.

The pitching deficient farm system of the Indians however is a good fit with the Phillies. Many teams regard a crop of young arms in Philly’s farm to be solid and MLB potential. Jason Knapp’s name has come up. The big strike out pitcher is a 6’5″ 240 pounder who is seen as having what it takes. Honestly though I am a little confused here, because it does not seem as he is on the cusp of being in the bigs until a year or 2 either.

But you do have Carrasco, Carpenter, Bastardo (although injured), Brummett, Stutes, Escalona, and maybe Kendrick to some degree to dangle out there. These are presently the names that are bandied about as having a chance to make it in the MLB when compared to the other farm arms. There are a couple others who are starting to get some “pub” and some love, but the point is the CLiff Lee deal may be less damaging in Reuben Amaro’s rear-view mirror.

The Blue Jays allegedly still insist on Happ, Drabek, plus maybe a Dominic Brown or some other “stud” position prospect.  It doesn’t seem like Amaro and the Phillies brass are to keen on that happening.