Ricciardi: Jays "Have To Listen" On Halladay

Tampa is missing from possible list of destinations. They certainly have the pitching chips to acquire him for the next 1 1/2 year, but they could never afford to sign him afterward with the way that team operates on the cheap.

And this means JP is done in Toronto, for sure when his contract is up. He'll likely now be treated like Vince Carter is in Toronto once this deal is made. If he wins the trade or not and I mean why not sell everything now?

The jays have a lot of useful guys right now, Rolen, Overbay, Scutaro, Barajas, Tallet, Frasor, Downs.

Those are all guys at the end of their contracts within at least a year who would be great fits on several teams in need of parts.

Simply put without Halladay can the jays compete next year anyway? if not why keep them you might as well load up the system because as Wells gets more expensive your going to need the cheap prospects coming up.

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I just want to hear some proposed deals from Blue Jays fans. I think I'm going to be sitting on the sidelines for this one, but after the discussions of yesterday's thread this could get pretty funny.

I'll take Halladay to the Dodgers for Kershaw, McDonald, DeJesus, Lambo, and Martin FTW
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Oh yeah cause the trade proposals from the other side are not worse right? Halladay for these 2 prospects that are not even in our Orgs top 30 and Barry Zito.

there are two trades the Jays make IMO.

1) Rolen and Halladay to the Brewers for Gamels and Escobar. This gives the Jays the cheap IF they need to compete when Wells and Rios deals are eating up the payroll. Roy has a good relationship with Gord Ash. Rolen gets to go back to the NL Central and stick it to LaRussa.

2) Halladay and Wells to whoever, for whatever. This is the other lifeline for Toronto as it gives them a do-over and allows for payroll flexibity in the years to come, and maybe enough room to sign him back when he becomes a FA.

The Jays are in a really tough spot -- they have the talent to compete...but not to win the AL East.

you put them in the Central or West, and they aren't even considering these moves.

What are the chances of getting someone to take Well's contract with Halladay -- i think if they can get someone to take that load, it almost is necessary. Halladay is amazing, but if they wont be able to sign him, might as well move the albatross of Well's contract and bank on Lind/Snider/Rios while saving a boatload of cash.

Well I think its pretty clear that 1.5 seasons of Halladay probably isn't WORTH 6.5 seasons of Hanson. Getting any team to give up a guy with that sort of track record, potential, and years left under team control should be seen as getting more than Halladay is worth. Obviously other prospects have to be added to mitigate the risk, but you get the idea. If I'm the Jays I target that one truly elite prospect to go along with some other solid prospects I'm high on, as opposed to aiming for 3 very good prospects that aren't nearly the sure thing that one elite guy is.

Id imagine its probably pretty hard to figure out Vernon Wells' value right now. I mean sure its negative or 0, but just how bad is it. Yes he's horribly overpaid but aside from May&June of this year he's still a very good player. If he hits .280 with 25-30HR next year, then any team who takes his contract along with Doc will have a steal.

Okay had to join just to comment on the BS that this article is.

Halladay IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. And I'm not just saying that as a Jays fan.

Ken (I make mountains out of Mole hills)Roesnthal is out to lunch and taking what JP has said out of context.

JP hasn't said anything he hasn't before and that is his standard statement about trades "If somebody comes to us will listen" is much much different then "Will listen to teams and take the best offer we get"

This article in typical Roesnthal and now has the internet blogsphere community goign crazy on what their team would give up to get Halladay. Such as a Phillies fan who think they should trade for him and that would only cost "2 MLB prospects that aren't even in the majors"

First and foremost IF this was ever to come to fruition. It is going to cost the other team more then 2 prospects nobodys heard of.

Now lastly whats not being reported is JP on the FAN590 this morning saying..

"We're not putting up a sign that says we're trading Roy Halladay. I think that's the furthest thing from what's going on right now."

"We're not out there shopping him, but like any of our players, if someone comes knocking, we wouldn't be doing our job if we don't listen."

"That's what it's like this time of year, during the trading period."

"We've always said that a) we don't want to trade Roy Halladay, and b) if we do decide to trade Roy Halladay, it's going to be very painful for the other organization."

Halladay is as much on the block as AROD in NY or Bay in Boston, Crawford in Tampa.

So fans on both sides. Jays and those who want him on their team rest easy tonight Halladay will be here through 2010.

The Yankees would trade a-Rod in a second to anyone who would take his contract...

in my opinion.

What I would do if I was GM of the Jays is essentially say. Halladay is yours if you take Wells and Rios. They could get an incredible hall for him, but getting those contracts of the books would be just as valuable in the long run. I don't mean they trade him for a sack of balls, but get one solid prospect and some bodies and get $160 million dollars off the books so you can do something to improve your club the next 5 years. The fans initiall reaction of course would likely be outrage, but the say you bring in a John Lackey, Matt Holliday, so on and so forth over the next few seasons then they would proabaly end up satisfied.

"Ellsbury and Bowden for Halladay and Wells."

That would make the Sox World Series favorites this year and completely hamstring their payroll for the next five.