Huge news out of Toronto as Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, basically admitting that his team can’t contend in the ultra-tough AL East this year, has said he would be willing to listen to trade offers for ace pitcher Roy Halladay, who would immediately make almost any contender a playoff lock.
“We have to see what’s out there,” Ricciardi said. “I’m not saying we’re going to shop him. But if something makes sense, we at least have to listen. We’re [leaning] more toward listening than we’ve ever been.”
Toronto, after dropping three of four over the weekend to the Yankees, is now seven games behind and in fourth place in the American League East after leading the division for most of April and May.
Halladay, the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner and an annual contender for the award, is 10-2 this season and 74-29 since the start of the 2005 season. Halladay, who becomes a free agent after the 2010 season, already has said he would prefer to pitch for a contending team.
“I think that’s something that you have to talk over with your ownership group and give them the plusses and the minuses as to what retaining him or not retaining him, what it means,” said Ricciardi. “It’s a big decision made by a lot of people.”
Ricciardi said Toronto’s current 10-game road trip that began with that 1-3 record in New York would play a big role deciding which direction he will take the team.
The Jays are struggling in this economy and would like to trim payroll. They already owe outfielders Vernon Wells and Alex Rios about $160 million combined from 2010-2014. Wells is untradeable with his contract, but Rios probably could fetch a decent return. Third baseman Scott Rolen also probably would draw some interest.
It’s virtually assured that the Red Sox and Yankees would get in a bidding war for Halladay, as either one of those teams would become a World Series overwhelming favorite on WagerWeb.com with Halladay in the rotation.
Teams like the Mets, Angels, Brewers and Phillies also would likely get involved in the bidding.
Halladay has a full no-trade clause in a contract that runs through next season. He is being paid $14.25 million this year and is due to earn $15.75 million in 2010.
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