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Roy Halladay Rumors: Tuesday

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4:20pm: Ricciardi told Jon Heyman of SI.com that he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't at least listen to offers for Halladay.

3:20pm: Ricciardi told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that he prepared his ace for a possible trade. Halladay told his GM that he will listen if Ricciardi decides on a deal and needs approval.

"We're going to see what's out there," Ricciardi told Olney.

Speaking to the Canadian Press, Ricciardi said he's not confident the Jays and Halladay have a future once their current deal expires after next year.

"I'm not so sure payroll-wise where we're going to be able to be after 2010," he said. "I'm not so sure that the player wants to stay here beyond 2010."

1:27PM: Roy Halladay can be had, but any team looking to acquire him will have to part with a number of top young players or prospects. Here are the details on the latest name to become available:

  • Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail talked to J.P. Ricciardi who repeats that the Jays will listen to offers for Roy Halladay. However, the Jays are only going to trade him for an awesome collection of talent.
  • Jon Heyman of SI.com sees the Phillies and Yankees as early favorites for Halladay, followed by the Angels.
  • MLB.com's Todd Zolecki points out that the Blue Jays "hold all the cards." If they hear a great offer, they can take it; if not, they have their ace around for 2010.

Ricciardi: Jays “Have To Listen” On Halladay

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1:00pm: Ricciardi told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that he's not shopping Halladay, he's just open to hearing offers. The Jays would have to be overwhelmed to make a deal. 

8:20am: Roy Halladay might be the best pitcher in the game; he's definitely the best pitcher on the trade market. Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he's ready to listen to offers for his ace pitcher.

"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 more toward listening than we've ever been."

We heard hints that Halladay could be available yesterday, but now there's no doubt: the Jays are ready to part with him in the right deal. Rosenthal believes "Halladay is a goner," saying it's "almost impossible to stop" the process of selling a player once it starts, but Ricciardi said the Jays won't deal Halladay if the right offer doesn't surface.

Given teams' unwillingness to take on salary and part with prospects, there's no guarantee that the Jays will receive a blockbuster offer. Halladay has a no trade clause and is under contract for this year ($14.25MM) and next ($15.75MM). The Jays also owe Alex Rios and Vernon Wells about $160MM over the next five seasons, which could make it harder to pay Halladay.

Odds And Ends: O’s, Phillies, Braun, DeRosa

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More links for the afternoon…

Roy Halladay’s Potential Suitors

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Jays are open to offers for Roy Halladay. This doesn't mean the Jays will deal heir ace; it just means they'll consider moving him for the right group of players. Here is Rosenthal's "largely speculative" list of possible destinations for the Jays righty:

  • Yankees – Rosenthal says the Jays will not hesitate to dangle Halladay to the Yankees and Red Sox. Phil Hughes could head an offer.
  • Red Sox –  The Red Sox could start an offer with Clay Buchholz, but they may prefer to hold onto Buchholz or use him as a trade chip to try and lure Victor Martinez away from the Indians.  
  • Phillies – Rosenthal hears they've asked about Halladay repeatedly in recent years. The Phillies have an appealing group of prospects, but they could have trouble taking on the $7MM remaining on Doc's deal.  
  • White Sox – The White Sox were in on Jake Peavy, so they could make a play for Halladay. As Rosenthal says, Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda wouldn't be enough, but they also have Gordon Beckham.
  • Dodgers – They'd likely have to part with Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw to obtain Halladay.  
  • Rangers – The Rangers have the prospects, but not the money.   
  • Cubs – Until Jim Hendry gets the go-ahead to add payroll the Cubs are an unlikely destination, especially because they don't have big-name prospects to tempt the Jays.  
  • Angels – Probably lack the premium pieces the Jays would seek.  
  • Brewers – Alcides Escobar would appeal to the Jays, who don't have an answer at short after Marco Scutaro becomes a free agent this year. But Escobar's untouchable, and probably wouldn't net Halladay on his own. 
  • Mets – Omar Minaya would have to empty the farm system to acquire Halladay.  
  • Braves – Rosenthal says they're a longshot, especially since they have pitching depth already.   
  • I see the Phillies and Brewers as the best fits, since they crave pitching, have young talent and play in another league. 

Blue Jays “Have To Be Open To Anything”

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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.

Morosi’s Latest: Blue Jays, Sanchez, Correia, Holliday

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Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com suggests the Blue Jays might want to set their sights on 2010, after which they stand to lose Lyle Overbay, Scott Downs, Scott Rolen, and Roy Halladay to free agency. Not to mention Cito Gaston and J.P. Ricciardi, whose contracts will both expire barring an extension. Morosi writes,

"Six pitchers currently reside on the disabled list, and ace Roy Halladay was a recent visitor. Vernon Wells and Alex Rios, signed through 2014, haven't been hitting. The team is in fourth place and would probably need to climb the standings quickly in order to convince ownership that additions to an $80 million payroll are warranted this month."

Morosi adds the following:

  • Halladay is not going anywhere.
  • Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond are most likely staying put, says Morosi, and I doubt anyone here disagrees.
  • Pitching is not a need for 2010 with the anticipated return of Jesse Litsch, Shaun Marcum, and Dustin McGowan.
  • The Jays are almost certain to keep Downs, who has become a premier reliever in the American League.

Morosi suggests, the Jays trade a pitcher or two to boost their team OPS which lags in the AL East behind the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays. Given the above, Morosi suggests Brian Tallet as a trade chip. "Tallet could be looked upon as a viable option for teams looking for a mid-rotation left-handed starter, particularly if the Mariners stay in the race and elect not to move Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn."

They may also look at dealing from their collection of right-handed setup men, such as Casey Janssen, Jeremy Accardo, Brandon League, or Jason Frasor. Just speculating here but Janssen may be the most attractive since he can start. As a reliever in 2007, Janssen had a 2.35 ERA in 72.2 IP with 6 saves before missing 2008 with a torn labrum.

Morosi has a few more bullet points to discuss:

  • Freddy Sanchez's contract contains an $8MM option for 2010 that automatically vests after 635 PAs, or only 600 if he makes the All Star team. So, it stands to reason that Sanchez will either make the All Star Team or see his trade value increase. This may be moot given Sanchez is on pace for 660 plate appearances. Morosi says one Mariners official doesn't think Pittsburgh is considering trading Sanchez. The M's have need for a pure hitter as well as a second baseman given concerns about Jose Lopez ability to stay at 2B long term.
  • The M's asked about Jeremy Hermida, but there wasn't a lot of movement. Morosi notes Hermida's trade value has fallen significantly.
  • Kevin Correia is pitching fantastically but the Padres haven't put him on the open market. Morosi doesn't report much excitement among other clubs.
  • Morosi says "one person in the industry who knows Oakland general manager Billy Beane well," guessed Matt Holliday will stay with the team so Beane could collect the compensatory draft picks. Morosi quotes the source: "Billy loves the draft."

Odds And Ends: Halladay, Yankees, Rangers

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Links for Tuesday morning…

No One’s Calling Toronto About Halladay

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Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reported yesterday that no one's calling the Blue Jays about Roy Halladay. 

"We haven't gotten one call," Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said.

It's not for a lack of interest- Halladay became the first ten-game winner in the majors yesterday and he leads the AL in innings pitched and strikeout to walk ratio. He's been a top-five Cy Young finisher each of the last three years and while he makes a lot of money, he's hardly overpaid at $14.25MM this year and $15.75MM next. Ricciardi's not fielding calls, because the Jays are 32-27, just two games back of the Yankees in the AL East. Ricciardi believes the Jays need Halladay for them to win.

"We're not going to be a playoff team without Roy Halladay." 

Ricciardi repeated that he does not expect to trade Halladay and plans to work on an extension with him after the season.

Odds & Ends: Phillies, Moore, Draft

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Three years ago today, four current big leaguers were selected on day two of the 2006 MLB Draft: Derek Holland of the Rangers, Daniel Murphy of the Mets, David Robertson of the Yankees, and Clay Zavada of the Diamondbacks. Here's some lazy Sunday afternoon linkage for you.

  • Sam Mellinger tweets that current Royals' and ex-Phillies' executive Mike Arbuckle says that his biggest regret is drafting Reggie Taylor over Roy Halladay in the first round of the 1995 Draft. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Arbuckle isn't alone with that sentiment.
  • Jim Salisbury runs through the Phillies' trade chips.
  • Royals' GM Dayton Moore says that his team isn't in need of any major changes right now, via Bob Dutton. “We are constantly evaluating our internal options to improve our team, and specifically our offense. And we’re always looking for opportunities to improve our team through trades or the waiver wire, and we’ll always be aggressive in trying to do that. But I’m confident that we will begin to perform better and play as we did in the first 30 games of the year. That’s all I can focus on.”
  • Meanwhile, Rany Jazayerli suggests a move for the Royals: trade for Jeff Francoeur. His reasoning: buy low on someone with gobs of talent.
  • Texas high school outfielder Randal Grichuk made a name for himself by hitting a few homers during a predraft workout at Busch Stadium, according to Derrick Goold.
  • Ross Ohlendorf's thesis shows that the rate of return of the top 100 picks from the 1989-2003 drafts was about 60%.

Odds And Ends: Eyre, Michael Taylor, Borkowski

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Tonight all eyes will be on Randy Johnson as he goes for his 300th win. Here are some links to keep you going until then…

  • Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the Phillies are in no hurry to deal prospect Michael Taylor, who's slugging over .600 at Double A. Taylor understands that, as a corner outfielder, there's not much room for him in Philly. Could Taylor be a trade chip as the Phillies look to add pitching?
  • Andy Martino of the Inquirer reports that Scott Eyre says he's "more than 90 percent" sure he'll retire after this year. Eyre, 37, has pitched for five teams in 13 seasons.
  • Roy Halladay threw 133 pitches last night and ESPN.com's Rob Neyer hopes for Halladay's sake that it isn't the beginning of a trend though he doesn't criticize Cito Gaston's decision to let Doc pitch.
  • Baseball America has more minor league transactions. Dave Borkowski was released by the Astros after he was designated for assignment.
  • John Fay of the Cincinnati Inquirer revisits the Josh Hamilton for Edinson Volquez deal and asks Reds fans whether they like the deal for their team.
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