Lilly for Ryan Howard?

[Rance Mulliniks]

What do you guys think of the proposed offer of Ryan Howard (from the Phillies) for Lilly? JP said he won't think about trading Lilly for a variety of reasons - lack of depth of SP, decent contract, and desire to have a winning attitutde around the young guys. Still, Howard is a great prospect - a power hitting 1B. With the Jays so sorely lacking power (and a real 1B), and with Lilly's troubles listening to the coaching staff, I think the deal would make sense.

[Mookie4ever]

This deal seems like if creates more problems than it solves.

We need starting pitching and we have too many infielders.

If we do this deal then we have to get rid of Hinske and it still doesn't solve the problem of finding a spot for Hill to play.

But if we do fall out of the race Lilly is the most tradeable commodity that we have.

[mweir145]

I don't think JP believes this guy can hit major league pitching, and he hasn't really proved that he can either.

Losing Ted Lilly would cause much more problems then it would solve because our rotation would look much worse without him. It would cause us to bring up another prospect like a Gaudin who may or may not be ready.

Besides, JP has already said that he wouldn't take any deals for Lilly.

[Lime]

Howard would, in all likelihood, become the true cleanup hitter this team is lacking big time.

Lilly is not a good enough #2 on a team trying to make the playoffs, nor will he ever be. This club's best shot will come when hopefully most of Rosario, McGowan, Jackson, Purcey, and Romero pan into good major league starters, to which point Lilly will not be needed. At the same time there are no legit power hitters in the Jays system that will be ready within the next 2-3 years.

Lilly for Howard should be done in a flash if the Phillies are willing to make that deal.

As for having too many infielders. First thing's first, get rid of Hinske in any way possible, and that probably means buying him out. For the rest of this season, when Koskie gets back, we're looking at rotating 6 everyday players into 5 spots (including DH). Given the circumstances, this wouldn't be too devastating.

When next year rolls around, all pretending that Howard is here, Hillenbrand would be gone and there would be no problem at all.

[ensanimal]

i don't like this deal....yet. as long as the jays are still in the playoff hunt, they have to keep lilly. pitching wins ball games. howard is a very nice prospect, but is only average defensivley from everything i've read, has lots of power, but can he hit for avg? so far in a small sample size, has not shown much in the show.


if by the deadline the jays are out of it, and the phils still wanna deal....then i may have a different opinion.