Lawrie vs. Halladay....Keeper League Trade

by lhsuperiors on Mar 19, 2026 2:05 PM EDT

Which would you take. Adding Halladay probably makes me the favorite to win this year. Is it worth it to give up a prospect like Lawrie? Pitching sraff currently consists of starters: Garza, Morrow, Zimmerman, Strasburg in a 12 team league. Lawrie costs $1 and Halladay $6.75 with a $100 cap. Lawrie might not ever have more value than right now....but he might also end up being an MVP while Halladay is retired in a couple of years. Thoughts....

Poll

Who would you rather have in this situation?

Tweet Comment 23 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

it would help to know

who your 3b, and even who your OF(lawrie still may eventually end up there) are.

by rangersfan24 on Mar 19, 2026 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

Lawrie is staying at third

The Jays are loaded in OF depth and they like his defence at 3B. There is no need to move Lawrie off the hot corner.

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on Mar 19, 2026 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

so back to the original point...

of wanting to know who the OP had at 3b. i am not here to get into an argument over what position lawrie will end up playing when none of us can see the future

by rangersfan24 on Mar 19, 2026 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Players

Here are my keepers for the upcoming season:

Carlos Santana
Albert Pujols
Miguel Cabrera (who i will move to 3B)
Billy Butler
Johny Peralta
Ian Desmond
Dustin Ackley
Chris Young
Andrew McCutchen
Steven Strasburg
Brandon Morrow
Matt Garza
Jordan Zimmerman
Kenley Jansen
Drew Storen
Joel Hanrahan

by lhsuperiors on Mar 21, 2026 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldnt do it

As good as Halladay is he has been injury prone and is getting up there in pitching years. Based on that I don’t see him as a lower risk than Lawrie.

by pedrophile on Mar 19, 2026 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Halladay has been injury prone?

He hasn’t thrown under 220 innings since 2005. He did have a few fluke injuries earlier in his career but the guy is one of the most durable workhorses in baseball.

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on Mar 19, 2026 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

You are correct, that is what I was thinking of.

I still would prefer Lawrie as he will be a beast and any 35 year old pitcher, even Halladay, has concerns about when they decline and how fast.

by pedrophile on Mar 19, 2026 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted Lawrie too

I just didn’t agree with the “injury prone” tag on the hardest working arm in baseball. ;)

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on Mar 19, 2026 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

And you were correct about that tag ;)

I am a little concerned on his velocity this spring, I’m more concerned with his birth certificate. It probably won’t be this year but I expect him to start being mediocre in the next year or two.

What do you think of the Phillies? I see them struggling a little this year. Utley and his knees are scary, Howard, Rollins, Lee, all are getting older or face some injury or down years.

by pedrophile on Mar 19, 2026 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

There pitching is still nuts

I don’t like the offence too much but Hamels, Lee, and Halladay should get them back in the playoffs. That Howard contract already looks terrible and it only year one which is terrifying.

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on Mar 19, 2026 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

They should be in the hunt

But I just don’t see all 3 of Lee, Halladay, Hamels doing what they did last year. And they will need to do that to win the division.

Btw the Leafs are getting crushed 7-0 tonight, will Boston drub them 10-0?

by pedrophile on Mar 19, 2026 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions

re: Btw

The Bruins have been giving the Leafs a proper shoeing all year. Will be glad to see the season come to a close.

by msgg139 on Mar 20, 2026 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

halladay

if he puts you over the top to win this year, the move is a no-brainer. you play to win the game.

by jwa1417 on Mar 19, 2026 6:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Hello??!!!

You play to win the game.

by emoofb on Mar 21, 2026 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Flags fly forever

Halladay. Go for the throat, deal with 2013 on when they arrive.

by peachesnnuts on Mar 19, 2026 8:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

this.

by None Taken on Mar 20, 2026 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions

OTOH perennial contenders trade their Halladays before they decline

Do you want a shot at one championship or a shot every year at a championship?

by pedrophile on Mar 20, 2026 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Would Halladay impact your cap?

Also, would need to know how your offense stacks up otherwise.

Lawrie should be a 25-25 guy in the short term (not this year necessarily, but within 3, barring injury). He’s certainly a high motor guy, which could hurt him in the long-run. He’s not bad at third (certainly not a butcher) - I see him sticking there for the next few years. Value is great

Halladay’s only downside is that he’s 35 in May. His keeper-worthy days would appear to be numbered though. Perhaps another 2-3 years away? This also depends on how many pitchers are kept on a regular basis.

I prefer to build for the future with my keepers, so I’d likely stay with Lawrie.

by msgg139 on Mar 20, 2026 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

I find it really hard to evaluate this offer because you don’t provide us with any details regarding the parameter of your team and league.
Do you get to keep players for as long as you like or is there a fixed amount of years?
What’s your team built for? This year? Or is your team a perennial contender?
Is their any inflation for salaries? How much? Is it standard 5×5 or not? Wwhat are your alternatives at 3b? If you add halladay how sizable a gap is it between you and the next guy?

by bk11 on Mar 21, 2026 6:46 AM EDT reply actions

Great questions

Hard to answer in a quick blog but obviously they effect the ultimate decision.

League is 8×8
Salary Cap is $100
You can keep player as long as you want but salaries keep going up each year…Halladay is at the rate of $2 increase per year.
Lawrie is at the following rate increase: $.25, $.50,$1, $1.50, then $2 per
We keep 2 3B, my other will be Miggy
I was in 5th place last year out of 12. 2 of the 4 teams above have had sizeable off-season drop offs, I’d be competing with 2 other teams and it should be very close. Lawrie would go to one of the other teams, who even withouth Halladay probably still has the best pitching going in

by lhsuperiors on Mar 21, 2026 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

A bird in the hand is better than one in the bush

League titles are not easy to come by in a competitive league. If your league is competitive and hard to win I say do it. Halladay is only still under 7% of your total payroll. That’s still crazy good.

by emoofb on Mar 21, 2026 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

no way

years=value…halladay doesn’t have many left..lawrie has many and will be a complete stud at 3B this year. i’m actually getting sick of this “Flags Fly Forever” thing that keeps getting repeated on here every time someone asks if it’s OK to trade a prospect for a veteran. the only way — and I mean only way — i would do this is if you are ABSOLUTELY sure you will win this year.

by psugator on Mar 21, 2026 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

your team is pretty young, so unless inflation makes it hard for you to keep the core of them together for the next 3-4years, i would not make the trade. however, i’m assuming you can get a pretty decent starter with the 5bucks you’d save for not making the deal.

only if it’s hard to acquire a no.2 or better sp in the FA/auction market would i consider dealing for halladay. but keep in mind that if you are dealing for him, you shouldn’t expect him to be a top 10 sp for more than the next 2 years. i think you can assume for the next 2 years he’s a decent bet to put up 15-18w, 3.00era, 180-200k pitcher a year.

lawrie i would say is a 20-25hr hitter with 15-20sb this year hitting for .280-.290, his ceiling you could say is ryan braun.

by bk11 on Mar 22, 2026 12:00 AM EDT reply actions