The next sports dynasty

If I had to bet on which professional sports team would become the next so-called "dynasty," I'd put my money on these guys:

The Philadelphia Phillies already have the most recent World Series in the bag, based around a solid, solid group of core talent including Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Brad Lidge, Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins and the terrific Chase Utley. In the offseason they added Raul Ibanez, who is having a career year, and just this week they signed Pedro Martinez, who should help anchor the pitching rotation.

Now, it looks like the Phillies are the frontrunners to trade for Roy Halladay.

If they can do that - and if they can lock him up to a long-term deal - I think we have the makings of a dynasty.

It might depend, though, on your definition of a "dynasty." I think three championships in five years is a short-term dynasty; then you have the Yankees, who have established a dynasty over the past century.

The only problem with trading for Halladay is the Phils would have to give up a substantial amount of minor-league talent; that could effectively kill the dynasty in a few years.

So, I guess the Phillies GM has to decide: is a short-term dynasty now worth more than a long-term dynasty over the next few decades?

--Matt Kelsey