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Moves won’t hurt Halladay or Holliday

Published:July 26, 2009, 7:07 AM

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Updated: August 21, 2010, 12:56 AM

Any discussion of top fantasy players who may be available in trades begins and ends with Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay.

If Halladay does get moved prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, fantasy owners shouldn’t have any reason for concern. Halladay will head to a contending team, one that’s stronger than the Blue Jays, and he’ll dominate like he has all season.

There’s no reason to think Halladay can’t put up numbers similar to those CC Sabathia did in 2008 when he was traded from Cleveland to Milwaukee. With the Brew Crew, Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts, with an unconscionable seven complete games.

Halladay is just as much of a horse— which means those numbers are certainly apossibility— especially if he goes to Philadelphia in the weak NL East.

As for what the Blue Jays will get back in return, well, don’t hold your breath. Should Halladay be moved, it will likely be for prospects who won’t make much of a difference this year. That’s usually the case during deadline deals: a contender mortgages its future for a player it thinks can help it win the World Series.

Just last year, fantasy superstars Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira and Sabathia all changed addresses. Ramirez was simply sensational for the Dodgers, hitting .396 with a ridiculous 1.232 OPS. Teixeira was almost as good, hitting .358 with a 1.081 OPS with the Angels.

This year, however, there doesn’t appear to be that many game-changing stars who could be on the move. The biggest hitter on the market already found a new home after Oakland traded outfielder Matt Holliday back to the National League and the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Holliday’s move from Coors Field with the Colorado Rockies to the vast Oakland Coliseum zapped some of his power numbers this season, but Friday’s deal is good news for fantasy owners.

He’ll be in a stronger St. Louis lineup, and batting cleanup behind Albert Pujols and in front of Ryan Ludwick, he will get plenty of chances to make pitchers pay if they intentionally walk Pujols.

Here’s a look at a few of the other names rumored to be on the block.

Freddy Sanchez, 2B, Pittsburgh: Sanchez was selected to his third All-Star Game in the past four years earlier this month. He won’t provide a ton of power for fantasy owners, but he’s batting better than .300 this year.

Sanchez’s double-play mate in Pittsburgh, shortstop Jack Wilson, may also be on the move. Wilson, hitting around .270 this season, could be appealing from a fantasy standpoint if he goes to a team like Boston that has a need at short.

Nick Johnson, 1B, Washington: Since 2005 just four players in the major leagues have a better on-base percentage than Johnson. But he can never stay healthy. Johnson suited up for just 38 of Washington’s games last season. His .305 average in 2009 is appealing for fantasy owners, but Johnson won’t display a ton of power.

George Sherrill, RP, Baltimore: The Orioles’ 32-year-old closer is in the midst of his best season. Sherrill has been especially difficult for left-handed hitters to handle, holding them to a .125 average.

The big question for Sherrill will be what team he goes to if he is traded. If he goes to a team that uses him in a setup role, his usefulness goes down dramatically. If he gets a chance to close, though, he could be a valuable reliever.

Cliff Lee, SP, Cleveland: Lee, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, has a losing record this season, but his stats aren’t terrible. A 3.17 ERA and 1.32 WHIP should result in more than the six wins he has.

Lee isn’t getting the love shown to Halladay on the market, but he’s a good name for fantasy owners to keep in mind if he is traded during the next week.

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