Playing in the same division as three of the best teams in baseball is a challenge in itself, but 39 of the Blue Jays' remaining 79 games come against the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays. As Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports, Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi says he has to be "open to anything" as the trade deadline approaches. The Jays could still contend, but they would listen to offers for their players.
"We have to see what makes us better," Ricciardi said. "Obviously, if people have interest in Roy Halladay, they'd better realize there's a steep price that's going to come with it."
The Jays can contend next year, when Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan and eventually Jesse Litsch could join a rotation that will include the emerging Ricky Romero and possibly youngsters Brett Cecil and Marc Rzepczynski. Halladay, who's under contract for 2010, figures to lead the rotation, so teams would presumably have to make startlingly good offers to pry him away.
