For Anthopoulos, His First Trade Will Define Him

As we wait impatiently for the official announcement of the Roy Halladay, nine-player, four-team deal and for the Phillies to announce a press conference time and place, here are random musings about how the whole thing will affect the 32-year old Alex Anthopoulos as he moves forward.

It's likely that no matter how long the Jays' rookie GM remains at his job, he will never make a bigger trade than the four-way he helped orchestrate among the Jays, Phillies, M's and A's.  

Last week, it was one of those days the media was congregated in an unidentified Indiana hotel room on a random floor at the Winter Meetings for the daily non-update with the GM. The conversation drifted to the enormity of having Anthopoulos' first winter meetings trade for Roy Halladay unfold in front of his peers and then the likelihood that it would forever be the biggest deal of Alex's GM career.

The young Caadian considered the idea, self-consciously, then changed directions and rushed past the issue like Alex Ovechkin blowing by a befuddled Brian McCabe during his what-the-hey-days with the Leafs, I came back to the point, asking the GM: "Is it sort of like bringing a porn star to your senior prom?"

It was a good question. At least, I thought so at the time.

After a short, thoughtful silence, with hints of a smile, the briefing moved on. Not so fast. There are, in fact, legitimate comparisons to be made between this kid, Anthopoulos dealing with Doc at the Meetings and the Kid in high school being overmatched at the Prom. Here' a list of the similarities for each event:

1-In both cases, when you enter the room all eyes are on you and who it is you're with.

2-In each case, you may have believed you were prepared for whatever was to come, then you find out later, with a smile, that there's always something more that you can learn. 

3-Although outwardly calm, your mind is constantly racing, wondering if you, in fact, like many had said, may be overmatched, always mapping out furiously in your head what your next move should be.

4-Whatever you get out of the moment, some will always say it wasn't enough. Others will be jealous.

5-Into the future, that adrenaline-fueled euphoria is something that will be hard to match.

6-If you pull it off smoothly in front of the world  you will always have the respect of your peers.

7-Finally, at the end of the day, it's likely an event you will never, ever forget.

In the case of Anthopoulos, the GM, we can only guess what went on behind closed doors because Alex will never kiss-and-tell regarding his dealings with other GMs. You may not agree with what he got in return, you may think you could have got more in this deal, but it is what it is. Rock on, Alex. Welcome to the major-leagues, kid.

      

Comments

[Stanley]

Uhh...what?

[_L_Jay_]

Thanks for the chuckle while I'm otherwise dying inside.

[Angelo]

Sorry Richard.Alex did have options.Phillie sells out every game has $140m payroll and says they can't spend more. Blue jays don't sell out have less than $100 m payroll Yet we can afford to give them money. Also when people say it is not your money, so don't worry about it, this is wrong. This is $6m that can be used on someone else to help our team. Phillies should have given us pitcher Joe Blanton whose contract is $7m.We were closer to being a good team than what we are doing now. All I hear is that we have players who are under our control for the next five years.(salary wise). That does not sound like trying to improve the team. The Jays are now a Triple A club. Soon Aaron Hill will want to be on a winner to. Then we'll trade him for propects. Everyone wants to play on a winner. But in reality there is one winner and 29 losers.Financially,and socially, these 29 loosers aren't suffering too badly. We sure would like to be in their shoes. By the way, we are now paying $10m to a closer not to pitch, and $6m to Doc to pitch for someone else. Sorry Alex you are already judged by your first trade. You stink. Any organization who would put a rookie in to make the biggest deal ever for a business or sports team is a desperate organization. Alex and Beeston looked so weak in ttheir press conference. Even they didn't look like they believed the crap they were telling us.

[Thane]

Richard:

I think you mean enormousness, not enormity. Granted, the deal Alex got for Doc may not have been the greatest in history, but to imply that it was heinous and evil is a bit over the top, no?

[Jim Hardy]

Richard,

Why so cranky? Perhaps unhappy that A.A. isn't giving some inside dish? Or that A.A. won't promise to deliver a contending '10 team given weak major league talent, a bottom-five farm system, AND a mid-range salary budget in just a couple of weeks? Perhaps Richard is looking for more respect from the young whipper-snapper. Excuse me?

I imagine most baseball people understand what A.A. is doing - rebuild through youth/the draft/inexpensive players. Is there any other way? Sure, next year could be brutal, but so what? Are there any other options? Who wants (many, many) more seasons of 75 - 85 wins? I know, J.P. promised the same thing, but he was HORRIBLE at drafting, developing and trading talent! So we got quite a few season of overspending, impatient drafting, and then some chair-shuffling on the Titanic. From what I've read, A.A. did well in this trade - the three kids are probably our top three prospects now and all have a chance to be impact players (and at low salaries). No guarantees, but these are the kind of bets you have to make when you're dealt the kind of cards held by the Jays. If you need any more proof, have a look what an impatient media did for JFJ and the Leafs. Yikes ...

[Steve @ MLBFP]

Personally, I do not think he could of done better. As I posted today on my blog, the Jays were going to lose Halladay no matter what. To get two blue chippers in Wallace and Drabek, plus a decent catching prospect, well done! If you're looking for some scouting reports on your new prospects, check out MLB Fantasy Prospects today.

http://www.mlbfantasyprospects.com/2009/12/was-the-roy-halladay-trade-worth-it-scouting-report-on-kyle-drabek-sp-brett-wallace-1b3b-and-travis-darnaud-c.html

[mfk jh]

good

[zanix]

i loved this game but i don't know how to play baseball.