Bill Shaikin Done Lost His Mind

I'm about as fed up with Roy Halladay trade talks as the next guy. However, some things warrant a mention. A few weeks back LA Times writer Bill Shaikin suggested offering Russell Martin in a package for Roy Halladay. As if that wasn't absurd enough check out his latest gem...

The Dodgers say they won't trade Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley. We say they ought to swallow hard and consider trading Billingsley to the Toronto Blue Jays if needed to get the Halladay deal done.

Put the gloves down folks. He's got a very rational explanation for his genius suggestion. Oh wait, he doesn't...

And Halladay would come with a contract that expires in 2010. McCourt loves short-term contracts, particularly for pitchers. What could be better than an elite pitcher on a 14-month contract?

How about two damn good pitchers pitchers that are due about $5 million COMBINED next year. Additionaly, the Dodgers have financial control over Bills and Kershaw for several more YEARS, not a minuscule 14 months.

Shaikin even goes as far to explain how the Dodgers could afford Roy Halladay...

The Dodgers have received $11.1 million from the insurance company already [in regards to Jason Schmidt], with another $9.3 million under dispute, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.

Let's say the Dodgers do not collect another dollar in insurance. Let's remember the Dodgers saved $7.7 million when Manny Ramirez forfeited 50 days of pay during his suspension for violating baseball's drug policy.

Granted, some of that money is deferred. But add the payments from the insurance company to the savings from the suspension, for a grand total of $18.8 million. That all but covers the salary for Halladay, for this season and next.

And then promptly contradicts himself in the very next sentence...

But that would presume all that money would be available for player salaries, and [team president Dennis] Mannion said that would not necessarily be true.

McCourt would re-invest that money in the Dodgers rather than pocket it, Mannion said.

"It could find itself in player development," Mannion said. "It could find itself in player acquisition. It could find itself in our medical and training systems. It could be re-invested in the development of more fan services."

Why even put that quote in there? You just contradicted your entire previous argument.

That Dennis Mannion guy sounds pretty smart. Bill Shaikin, not so much.