If Halladay is as good as gone, then make it happen already!!

Don't get me wrong, I love Roy Halladay, there aren't many other players in baseball I'd rather build a team around. If the proverbial "writing is on the wall" and Halladay will indeed be shipped for a package of prospects, then well.. let's have it already.

I'm sick and tired of thinking about the 2010 Jays, assuming that we will be without our ace. If it's going to happen, then at least give our fans those shiny young prospects to get excited about. Losing Doc will hut, no doubt.. but the it's better to make the move happen now and let the healing process begin.

Who could the Jays receive to provide a jolt of enthusiasm for their fans:

C Jesus Montero - Yankees

The 19 year-old, YES 19 YEAR-OLD, Montero hit a combined .337 between A-Tampa and AA-Trenton in 2009. A right-handed hitter, he slugged his way to a .562 mark with 17 HR and 70 RBI. His season was cut short though due to a broken finger and Montero played in just 92 games. In just 257 career games as a pro, Montero has launched 37 HR and posted 176 RBI, while hitting at a .325/.379/.509 clip.

At 6'4" and 225lbs, Montero was MLB.com's 40th ranked prospect coming into the 2009 season. The only question about Montero is if he has the ability to stay behind the plate long-term. Either way, Montero's bat would instantly make him the Jays top prospect, even for those who still consider Travis Snider prospect-eligible.

J.P. Arencibia, a player I hyped prior to the 2009 season, lost a bit of his luster this year after struggling a bit in AAA this year and the Jays could decide Montero is the guy they want to target as their long-term answer behind the dish. A lineup with a 2-6 consisting of Hill, Snider, Montero, Lind and Arencibia would provide the Jays with an outstanding core for the future.

The only con in acquiring a player like Montero is that the Jays wouldn't likely receive a top-level arm in the same package, and the Jays young rotation could still use a future ace. Whether or not that ace will develop amongst the Jays young nucleus (Romero, Rzepczynski, Cecil) is yet to be seen, but an injection of talent from an outside organization via a Roy Halladay trade almost seems like a necessity (no offence Chad Jenkins).

Solution?

SP Clay Buchholz - Boston

Buchholz has serious ace talent, just check his no hitter versus the Orioles on September 1, 2007. He's had trouble making the full-time leap to the BIG LEAGUES ever since however, posting a forgettable 6.75 ERA over 15 starts in 2008. Buchholz was back on his game in 2009 though, posting a 7-2 record with AAA-Pawtucket. Check his peripheral's: a 2.36 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 99 IP. Certainly worth of another promotion, Buchholz again got his chance and performed admirably. He made his season debut on July 17th IN TORONTO and would make 16 starts for the Red Sox, going 7-4 with a 4.21 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 92 IP. Buchholz definitely pitched better than his slightly bloated peripheral numbers show.

The Jays have certainly had their share of exposure to the young phenom, as he dominated them twice during an 8-game stretch in which he posted a 6-0 record. Fittingly after the stretch began by outdueling Jays ace Roy Halladay on August 19th @ Rogers Centre, they would finally put the wood to Buchholz, this time @ Fenway Park on September 29th (the 4th start he made against the Jays in '09) behind the first two of a three-homer game from Adam Lind. Subtract his last 2 starts of the year (this aforementioned one against the Jays and a stinker the next time out vs. the Indians) and Buchholz would have finished with a 7-3 record and a 3.21 ERA instead -->> A FULL RUN LOWER THAN HIS SEASON TOTAL.

He also rebounded to make a solid start in Game 3 of the Red Sox division series against the Angels, and should be ready for a full-time gig in 2010. The only question is where? Will it be behind Boston's duel aces of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester? Or will Boston go for a third ace, and include Buchholz in a Roy Halladay trade, leaving the youngster in the mix for the top spot in the Jays 2010 rotation?

These two young prospects appear to be the obvious big names the Jays might acquire, but that's obviously if they decide to dangle the best player our franchise has ever groomed into the shark-infested waters of the American League East.

Next, we'll take a look at some other potential players that the team could target to excite Jays fans for 2010 and beyond!