MLB Trade Rumors: Phils Trade for Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee on his way to Seattle?

Lots of rumors today after a boring weekend. It appears that the Phillies are talking contract extension with Roy Halladay according to Jim Salisbury from Comcast Sports, and Halladay and his agent have checked into a Philadelphia area hotel, according to Andy Martino from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Here is what Salisbury wrote:

It is unclear which players the Phillies would send to the Blue Jays if the deal happens, but there were indications Monday that pitcher Cliff Lee could be traded. Trading Lee would help the Phillies get the prospects needed to complete the deal with Toronto. It would also free up $9 million in salary that would help the Phillies take on Halladay’s $15.75 million salary for 2010.

It appears the Blue Jays and Phillies may be involved in a three-team deal that Foxsports Ken Rosenthal speculated about a few days ago. Toronto could reap a bunch of prospects from the Phillies and the 3rd team, similar to how the Pirates reaped 4 prospects in dealing outfielder Jason Bay two years ago.

According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the deal is done, but no sign of what prospects the Blue Jays are getting:

3-way trade agreed to with halladay going to phils, cliff lee to mariners. phils trying to lock up roy now.

sorry, quick trigger finger. #mariners definitely the third team. checking now with cliff lee is the pltcher they get.

 

Update (5:03pm) from Foxsports Jon Morosi:

Source says Aumont (from SEA) and M. Taylor (from PHI) among players heading to TOR.

I hope this is true as I traded for Phillies outfield prospect Domonic Brown a few weeks ago in the UBA league.

Update (6:00pm) from MLB.com's Todd Zolecki

Zolecki just mentioned in an ESPN interview that pitching prospect Kyle Drabek may be part of the deal, as the Jays insisted on Drabek be included in their offer back in July.

Update (6:08pm) from ESPN's Jayson Stark:

According to a source who spoke with two teams involved in the trade, Toronto would get highly regarded Mariners pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont, Phillies catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and another Phillies prospect in exchange for Halladay. Indications are that the Phillies have balked at Toronto's repeated requests for outfielder Domonic Brown, and the Phillies are offering highly touted outfielder Michael Taylor instead.

Ok that's two sources saying Brown is not in the deal.

Update (6:38pm) from SI.com's Jon Heyman

hearing aumont is likely in #mariners pending deal for cliff lee. perhaps michael saunders, too. morrow may stay.

Update (8:41pm) from Jim Salisbury from Comcast Sports:

 Once the extension is complete, the Phillies are expected send three prospects to Toronto. A source identified those prospects as Drabek, outfielder Michael Taylor and catcher Travis D’Arnaud. The Blue Jays would also get a prospect from Seattle, possibly Canadian pitcher Phillippe Aumont. The Phillies could also end up with a prospect from Seattle. The Mariners are a key to the deal as they are expected to get Lee and his $9 million salary from the Phillies. The Phillies have a strict $140 million payroll so moving Lee appears to be a necessity.

Update (9:47pm) from Bob Elliot from the Toronto Sun:

RHP Phillippe Aumont is in the Halladay deal -- but not coming to the Jays. He's going to the Phillies

Update (10:23pm) from ESPN's Jayson Stark:

The specifics of the trade took some twists and turns on Monday. The trade's latest structure would send Phillies outfielder Michael Taylor, Phillies catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and a Phils pitcher -- either Kyle Drabek or J.A. Happ -- to Toronto, sources said. And indications Monday night were that that pitcher was likely to be Drabek. Under that scenario, the Phillies would not have to include their top position-player prospect, Domonic Brown, and they would receive Seattle's top pitching prospect, Phillippe Aumont, who originally appeared ticketed for Toronto.

The Phillies also would receive one other prospect -- believed to be 21-year-old outfielder Tyson Gillies -- from Seattle in exchange for Lee, who is a year away from free agency.

Philly fans would be ecstatic if Drabek was NOT in the deal.

More to follow.