I know what everyone is saying but I’m not saying it. Let’s move past the all too obvious seasonal pun and allow me to state that I do not want the Yankees to sign Roy Halladay. I don’t think the Yankees need him, nor do I think he’ll make the Red Sox good enough to take back first place if they were get him. I don’t think he deserves what he’ll end up getting and at 32-years-old I do not think he is worth a long-term investment.

To be frank and opinionated I think he is close to beyond his CY Young/best pitcher in the league days. I would have loved to see him on the Yankees in the early part of the millennium when the Yankees were busy signing Pavano and Randy Johnson. But they didn’t sign him then and just like this past summer, it’s too late to sign him now.

I see what everyone else sees. I’ve been lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to see him beat the Yankees at the old and new stadium. And not just beat them but completely defuse the bombers. He has ridiculous stuff and at times is virtually unhittable. But please let the Red Sox pay him $100M+ and give up their top prospects. The Yankees will do better keeping Jesus Montero, Austin Jackson, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes and using some of that $100M to re sign guys that helped New York win the World Series in 2009 and pick up some middle rotation starter; someone on the Nick Swisher level, only a pitcher this time.

I see his stats: 3.43 ERA lifetime which includes four seasons of a sub 3.00 ERA, his .661 winning percentage on a third place (sometimes worse) team. He is a six time All-Star and was the 2003 Cy Young Winner. Last season he had 7.8 strikeouts per 9 innings and his league leading 1.3 BB per 9 was the AL’s fewest by a starter.

Even after seeing all of those wonderful stats filled with well roundedness, I still don’t think they should sign him. I also hate when the Yankees want to sign some guy just so the Red Sox don’t. As far as I’m concerned you can let him go to the Red Sox. That team needs more than Roy Halladay if they think they can come back in 2010 and regain the AL East title; you better believe that.

Brian Cashman doesn’t have any interest in giving up big name prospect for him–at least I hope he doesn’t. Judging by they way they babied and saved Joba’s arm last year you would have to believe that they are keeping him for the long haul. That would be like marinating a 32 oz. NY Strip steak for two days to feed it to the dog. You can’t adjust the way you handle a pitcher so that he is in good shape for the LONG run and then trade him away. Otherwise you ruined his streak of good pitching (on August 6^th Joba was 8-2 with 3.73 ERA, then they “messed” with him and he finished 9-6 with a 4.74 ERA) last season for nothing.

Phil Hughes is the only guy I could see Cashman making available for trade but then again not really. Cashman has kept him safe from trade multiple times in the past two seasons and I don’t see that changing. He was the 8^th inning man all season long and despite his poor performance in the Playoffs he was key to the Yankees Championship season. An 8-3 record with a 3.03 ERA at 23-years-old has to seem more valuable than Halladay on the rebound, right?

Lastly I can’t imagine the Yanks parting with Jesus Montero or Austin Jackson. Jesus Montero is the best offensive prospect the Yankees’ have in the minors and could be the defensive fill in for Jorge Posada in years to come. His defense needs to play major catch up with his bat but at 20-years-old (turns twenty on Friday) I wouldn’t panic just yet. He gives up passed balls and is slow to second but he is still in the minors and with Jorge still playing and Cervelli right there, Montero is still too young to bring up and way too valuable of a possibility to trade.

Austin Jackson has been talked about in the Bronx since the kid came out of the womb. He is a fast, athletic, everyday centerfielder and could be the next generation’s Bernie Williams. Although Melky is great and played well at the end of the season and playoffs, I’d sit him a few games to see if this guy can cut it. And as a fan I’d be willing put Melky on the trade block if Austin Jackson were called up. I don’t have much to back this move up except anticipation. I cannot wait to see this guy morph into and everyday centerfielder and would be crushed if he were traded away.

Halladay will no doubt be good for any team that gets him. He’ll give them 2-4 years of lights out baseball and will give borderline teams the push they need to make it to the playoffs. He is, at times, the best pitcher in baseball and can frustrate opponents with the best of ‘em. But I don’t want him in pinstripes. It would be scary and disappointing for the Yankees to focus more on what they could get than what they already have. But this is the Yankees and nothing would surprise me so here’s hoping.

Team/Player Photos: New York Yankees v Cleveland Indians on Jul 27, 2010

Happy Turkey everyone.