Big acquisitions

Everyone is agog that the Red Sox are in a "full-court press" to make Roy Halladay next in the impressive line of Red Sox aces acquired by trade (Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, etc.), but I don't think it will happen.

As Sean McAdam notes:

A deal for Halladay would likely require the Sox to part with Clay Buchholz and also either Daniel Bard or Casey Kelly -- or both. Together, those three represent the most talented pitching prospects in the system, leaving the Sox with little organizational depth.

It's far more likely, said a source familiar with the Red Sox' plans, that the team pursues free agent John Lackey (left). The Boston Herald reported last week that general manager Theo Epstein met with the agent for Lackey at the GM meetings earlier this month.

Going after a Type A veteran starter in some ways goes against the Red Sox philosophy, since Epstein believes that signing 30-something pitching is a tremendous risk. The list of big-ticket free agent starters signed to disastrous deals (Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, Carlos Zambrano) is a long one and the Sox are said to be particularly wary of a similar misstep.

But given the choice between sacrificing a handful of young -- and inexpensive -- prospects and extending Halladay to a multiyear deal, or forfeiting only a draft pick and a big contract for Lackey, the latter is far more appealing to the Sox.

I thought we were done talking about Doc once the Phillies made the wise choice to get Cliff Lee instead.

The Roy Halladay rumors overshadowed the big news of the day: minor acquisitions! The Phillies, lacking a backup catcher, re-signed third-stringer Paul Hoover and three other minor leaguers. The Red Sox traded for Tug Hulett, son of former major leaguer Tim Hulett, whose family has a tragic story.

To finish on another down note, Jamie Moyer was hospitalized with recurring symptoms from his surgery.