Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Blue Jays Rumors

Angels Seek Starter, Relievers

By | at

The Angels would love to add a front-of-the-rotation starter like Roy Halladay and they're looking hard for relief help, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times. Acquiring relievers may be easier than obtaining a top starter, because, as Torii Hunter says, "If they're shopping Roy Halladay, everybody and their momma is going to be after him."

Halladay's teammates, Scott Downs and Brandon League, have become Angels targets, along with Chad Qualls and Rafael Bentancourt. Of the four, Betancourt would presumably be easiest to pry away, as the Jays have yet to become sellers and the D'Backs already traded one late-inning reliever.

Roy Halladay Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

One of baseball's most talented and dependable pitchers is available for the right combination of talent. Here's a collection of Roy Halladay-themed rumors and thoughts from around the league:

  • It's doubtful that the Jays would trade Halladay within the AL East and the Yankees wouldn't be likely to part with enough pieces to acquire him, a source told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. 
  • Seems to me that it's in the Jays' best interest to have many bidders involved, especially their AL East rivals, if only to boost the asking price for other clubs.
  • Feinsand suggests Yankees fans should give up on acquiring the Jays ace and just hope he's dealt to the NL.
  • Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times says the Angels have known for weeks that the Jays would listen on Halladay.
  • One Phillies person told Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer the team's serious about pursuing Halladay. 
  • One scout told Salisbury Halladay's the best pitcher in baseball, good enough to win 27 games in the NL. Another scout expects Doc to end up with the Red Sox or Angels.
  • Scott Lauber of the News Journal believes Ruben Amaro Jr. needs to strike a deal for Halladay. 
  • When his contract expires after 2010 Halladay will want to play for a winner, whether in Toronto or elsewhere, according to Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun.
  • MLB.com's Ken Gurnick doesn't expect the Dodgers to acquire Halladay.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Jays missed their chance to deal Halladay last year, when money flowed more freely and before teams clung onto their prospects as tightly.
  • Yahoo's Gordon Edes agrees, as attendance is down this year, but says teams like the Yankees could always jump in with a bid.
  • A friend of Halladay's told Jon Heyman of SI.com that Doc would likely approve trades to Boston, New York or Philadelphia.
  • Pete Abraham of the Journal News says J.P. Ricciardi played it "exactly right" yesterday, building hype about Halladay by telling everyone he could be available.
 

More Halladay Chatter

By | at

GMs' phones must be ringing off the hook tonight, and most of the incoming calls are probably from your friendly neighborhood baseball beat writer. Let's scope out the latest news from Buster Olney:

  • Olney has updated his previous post on the news, and gets word that Halladay might be open to waiving his no-trade clause.
  • Olney goes on to say that since Halladay would depart after 2010 as a likely Type A, he will command two high draft choices. Thus, all trade offers would have to begin with such talent.
  • Angels manager Mike Scioscia says GM Tony Reagins has talked to Toronto about Doc.
  • Olney runs through more suitors: the Red Sox, who have "stubbornly clung to their young pitching," the Mets and Cubs, who may or may not have the proper package of prospects, Yankees, and the Phillies.

In other news around the beat:

Halladay Season: Link Round-Up

By | at

The baseball realm is a-twitter with the news that the Blue Jays will listen to offers on Roy Halladay. Let's run down the latest bullet points on this front:

Roy Halladay Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

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

By | at

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

By | at

More links for the afternoon…

Roy Halladay’s Potential Suitors

By | at

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. 

Russ Adams Becomes A Free Agent

By | at

Russ Adams has cleared waivers and chosen to become a free agent, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment last week when they activated David Dellucci.

Another Jays note: Marc Rzepczysnki will make his Blue Jays debut on Tuesday. He has impressed in AA and Triple A this year, striking out more than a batter per inning.

Blue Jays “Have To Be Open To Anything”

By | at

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.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top