Kamloops outfielder in major league trade talks

This one is for the Tyson Gillies' fans in the Everett area . . .

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Tyson Gillies and his family are in Vancouver trying to enjoy some quality time together.
But the ringing of his cellphone keeps interrupting the proceedings.
That’s what happens when your name is being bandied about as perhaps being part of a three-team trade involving Major League pitching stars Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
Gillies, who is from Kamloops, is one of the Seattle Mariners’ top outfield prospects.
He said Monday evening that he’s isn’t “really sure” what is going on.
“I’ve heard many things,” he said, adding that “my best friend with the Mariners, Phillippe Aumont, who I live with in Arizona . . . his name keeps coming up. I think (the Toronto Blue Jays) really want him.”
The Associated Press reported yesterday that the Blue Jays have a tentative agreement to send Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies who, in turn, would move Lee, a prime left-hander, to Seattle.
The AP also reported that the commissioner’s office on Sunday gave Toronto and Philadelphia a 72-hour window in which to complete the deal.
Halladay was in Philadelphia on Monday and took a physical for the Phillies. Pitchers J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton and outfielder Dominic Brown of the Phillies also took physicals and are believed to be part of the deal.
Geoff Baker, who covers the Mariners for the Seattle Times, wrote on his blog Monday:
“Look for Phillippe Aumont to be included in any deal. Also, look for Tyson Gillies to possibly be included, given the fact he’s Canadian and the type of up-and-coming prospect the Jays would be thrilled to have in their system.”
Aumont, 20, is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound right-hander who was taken by Seattle with the 11th pick of baseball’s 2007 draft.
Also being mentioned is outfielder Michael Saunders, 23, of Victoria. He got into 46 games with the Mariners last season, hitting. 221. He has more pop in his bat than he showed, and also has great speed and is solid defensively.
Gillies, 21, played last season for the advanced Class A High Desert Mavericks of the California League. Batting leadoff, he hit .341 with 44 stolen bases and 104 runs. He had a .430 on-base percentage and slugged .486.
“It’s definitely pretty overwhelming,” he said of having his name in trade talks involving the likes of Halladay and Lee, both former Cy Young Award winners. “It’s exciting. I’m pretty nervous about the whole thing, but I’m sure everybody is.
“It sounds like those two deals are pretty done. The Doc and Lee . . . two of the top pitchers in the major leagues right now.
“It’s a huge trade right now . . . huge.”
Gillies added that he fielded a lot of calls yesterday.
“People have been calling me all day,” he said. “People want to let me know what’s going on . . . but nobody really knows right now.”
As for the possibility of playing for the Blue Jays, Gillies said that would be a challenge but one to which he would look forward.
“I grew up watching the Blue Jays play . . . the last Canadian team,” he said before adding: “I’ve never been to Toronto, though.”
He may get his first taste of Toronto real soon.
But then again . . . maybe not.
Late last night, ESPN reported: “The Phillies also would receive one other prospect — believed to be 21-year-old outfielder Tyson Gillies — from Seattle in the other trade for Lee, who is a year away from free agency.”
According to ESPN, Aumont also would go to the Phillies in that scenario.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com