Blue Jays appear ready to deal Halladay
07/08/09 3:10 PM EDT
It looks like the Toronto Blue Jays have finally given up the ghost. The team said publicly this week it will explore trading ace pitcher Roy Halladay, 32, a former Cy Young Award winner who is among the early favorites to win the award again this season.
That doesn’t mean a move is imminent — Halladay has a no-trade clause in his contract. But it does signal that the Blue Jays realize they need an overhaul to compete in the American League East against the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays. Halladay (10-2, 2.79 ERA) is scheduled to pitch this weekend at Camden Yards against the Orioles, who know exactly how much a star pitcher can bring in a trade. It was Baltimore’s decision to send ace Erik Bedard to Seattle 17 months ago that brought back All-Star center fielder Adam Jones, All-Star closer George Sherrill and top pitching prospect Chris Tillman, who has a 2.69 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk.
That trade was so lopsided some teams now shy away from trading multiple top prospects. But Toronto will still expect a similar haul for Halladay, a far more durable pitcher than Bedard.
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