Roy Halladay has been at the epicenter of a swirling vortex of trade talks for several weeks now, and the team considered to be the front runner in the sweepstakes are the Phillies. Several players have been discussed as possible pieces in a trade, none more than pitcher J.A. Happ, who is 7-0 for the Phillies and leads all NL rookies with a 2.68 ERA.

Halladay and Happ showcased their talents for all those interested Sunday, each pitching in dominant fashion against a tough division foe.

Halladay faced off at home against the Boston Red Sox, the top team in the American League. Doc pitched nine innings of one-run ball, scattering six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. He threw only 105 pitches over the nine innings, including an astounding 78 strikes. Halladay is now 11-3 on the season with a jaw dropping ERA of 2.73.

Happ pitched the series finale against the Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. He pitched seven scoreless innings, while giving up just five hits with four strikeouts. Happ lowered his NL rookie leading ERA to 2.68 and improved to 7-0 on the season. He has a 1.67 earned-run average his last six starts.

One of Happs’ greatest assets this season has been his composure, which was again on display Sunday. After an error by third baseman Pedro Feliz loaded the bases in the sixth inning with no outs, Happ came back and got three straight outs, including a pop up and two strikeouts. It was a maturity rarely seen in a rookie pitcher, but has been par for the course for the 27 year old lefty.

The Phillies continue to be considered the front runner to land Halladay, if he is ultimately traded, and as the Blue Jays are expected to demand a major league ready pitcher, Happ is the most likely player to be dealt. If he continues to pitch over the next two weeks as he has in his previous six starts, then his value will only increase, making him a more important component of a deal that is expected to command at least four players, including top prospects Kyle Drabek, and Dominic Brown or Michael Taylor. If his value rises enough, it may lower the need for as many other top level prospects.