Lee anchored a pitching staff to a 2nd straight WS appearance, and a list of multiple teams that the Phils passed in the night wondered why they didn’t get Lee for such a cheap price. 

Now, I sit here wondering if the shoe is about to be placed on the other foot.  First, I read Buster Olney reporting that Roy Halladay’s list of preferred teams include the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Phillies.  That’s the order reported, and I can only assume of preference.  But it sho nuff beats being alligned with the Twins and Rangers whom he nixed previously.  Then, I see John Heyman twitting this….
 
<<ive heard halladay-shopping jays like jesus montero of #yanks (plus hughes/joba?) and casey kelly of #redsox (plus buchholz?)
If the Blue Jays asking price for Roy Halladay is Jesus Montero and either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain I think the Yankees need to make this deal. >>

It’s never been easy being the trigger person in a GM’s chair, let alone nowadays with salaries north of many countries GDP.  But I can say this.  I’d hate to see the Phils not included in the Halladay considerations when competitors are applying non World Championship possibilities to the next couple years when we could be right there, and wondering why we didn’t get it done.  Pitching, piching, pitching. 

The name Brandon Lyon came up as a relief candidate recently.  One thing I found interesting about his possibilities was closing experience, and an expressed flexibility on his role, and since I have a hard time envisioning top flight closers coming because of roles filled here (Lidge, Madson),  that part of him looked positive.  Based on this quote I ran acoss tonight, he probably wants a 3 year deal and I’m not sure the Phils want to do that time frame with a less than stellar, but decent reliever.  Just a guess on my part.

“The main thing for me going into this after last year, and playing for two teams in two years, is a long-term deal,” Lyon recently told Booth Newspapers. “That’s more important to me this year. The shuffle is tougher and I want to dedicate myself to one team and one city, and have that peace of mind.”

I won’t swear to this anonymous opinion below, but I’m getting the impression this view has some degree of widespread support.  What I find interesting is that Castro would sign here for maybe more, but not a lot of extra money (assumed) when the playing time is limited.  People think Charlie doesn’t use his bench, and assume (at least I do) that it’s because of a weak bench (leastwise Bruntlett).  Jayson Stark recently said (Paraphrasing), “People in the front office wonder how much they should throw into the bench since Charlie doesn’t use it anyway.

Here’s a scouting report from a Major League scout who knows Castro well:
“He’s a defensive-oriented utility guy with tremendous hands. His range might not be what it once was, but he’s automatic on anything he gets to. He’s also a tremendous individual and quality person to have in the clubhouse. This is a good deal for the Phillies.”

Happiest of Thanksgivings to one and all. 

Pedro should feel something along the line of disowned.  Course we only know the surface, but any player with pride and self confidence should feel slighted by the Phils passing on a reasonable salary.

But….

There is such a long long way to go before spring training, and free agents fall into place.  If the market is found to be unexciting to Feliz, and the Phils, Pedro may well let any bitterness go.  I doubt he’s married to his current state of thinking.

That’s not an endorsement of resigning him, or his getting excited about it.  It’s a comment on the length of this process.