All I want for Christmas...

is Roy Halladay?  (This is a little late, yeah, but I just finished my last final today.. so cut me some slack.)  In case you've been living under a rock this week, a series of trades and signings have just shook up the baseball world and if you did miss it, here's a wrap-up of what's happened this week:

• A multi-team trade between Philadelphia, Seattle, Toronto, and Oakland (who really doesn't do anything in this trade):
• Philadelphia gets Roy Halladay and $6 million from the Blue Jays along with 3 prospects from the Mariners.  They also sign Halladay to a 3 year extension at $20 million/year.
• Seattle gets Cliff Lee from the Phillies.
• Toronto gets three prospects from the Phillies, one of which, Michael Taylor, goes straight to Oakland for a different prospect.  (wtf?)
• Red Sox sign Lackey to a 5 year contract. (even more reason to dislike them)
• Angels sign Matsui to a one year deal and apparently declare that they are content with their team, despite losing their best hitter and pitcher (see: Red Sox).
• Other noteworthy transactions:
• Dodgers sign Jamey Carroll (2nd baseman).
• Milton Bradley traded to Seattle for Carlos Silva.
• Baltimore signs Garrett Atkins (3B) and Mike Gonzalez (RP).

Now what does this all mean?

• Phillies get an upgrade over Cliff Lee and will have arguably the current best pitcher in the MLB (yes, including Lincecum) leading their rotation for the next 3 years.  If J.A. Happ matches his potential and if Hamels channels some of what he had during the 2008 playoff run, the Phillies will easily have the pitching to win another World Series.
• Seattle now has a 1-2 punch in Cliff Lee and the very much underrated Felix Hernandez that can rival any in majors and I'd say that with the Angels not doing anything, they're the favorite to win the AL West.
• The A's still suck.
• Toronto got jipped.  Had they traded Halladay a year ago with an extra year left on his current contract, they would have surely gotten a lot more in return.  Instead, they actually had to pay Philadelphia to take Halladay for 3 prospects.
• Red Sox are looking to build up enough ammo to make another run at the Yankees and Lackey could be an important role in that.  Lester and Beckett are good, but they aren't at Lackey's level.
• Angels are cocky as hell, but they have the minor league system to back it up.  Their focus on fundamentals is why they're there year after year, competing with the Yankees and Red Sox with half the payroll.
• Baltimore looks like they're loading up.  I doubt they could pose a credible challenge in the loaded AL East though.