One of Jayson Stark’s sources told him that Halladay probably wouldn’t approve a trade to the Mets.

While it’s certainly possible Stark and his source are wrong, the idea that Halladay wouldn’t want to come here isn’t that hard to believe.

Here is something I do believe though: if Halladay ends up a Phillie, Lackey will end up a Met.

let them have him and start planning for 2011. This would absolutely gut their farm and pretty much narrow their window to next year, 2011, and if guys age well 2012. Howard has old man skills, so I think the decline is gonna come pretty quick for him (hopefully not till after the Phillies lock him up to a long term crippling contract though). Ibanez is already on the decline, I think that contract will look like an albatross by the end. Rollins is already in steep decline, Polanco is in his mid-30’s. They’d have to spend a ton of money to extend Halladay, meaning they’d have to make some hard choices when it comes to Lee, Hamels, and Utley, and they’d probably be pretty hamstrung in next years free agent market. And with a bunch of aging guys, injuries always become a major issue.

Meanwhile, the Mets could basically punt 2010 – forget about Lackey or Bay. I’d still want Holliday, b/c he’s young and will be an impact player for the next few years, but for the most part use 2010 to see what Reyes and Wright are going to be going forward, see how Beltrans knees look, hope Ike and Fernando and Mejia and some of the other guys keep progressing, and then go into the strong 2011 free agent class like gangbusters, with a ton of cash and (hopefully) a good GM.