ShareThisThe uncertainty surrounding the future of Roy Halladay, who is being dangled on the trade market by the Toronto Blue Jays, got a little clearer Tuesday.
Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told reporters he now believes a trade for Toronto's ace pitcher is unlikely, and declared a self-imposed deadline of July 28 -- three days before the official Major League Baseball trade deadline -- for any potential deal to be consummated.
"I think if we (haven't) traded him by the time his last start gets here, it's probably not going to get done," Ricciardi said as he fielded questions from the dugout before his team went out and coughed up a 2-1 loss to cellar-dwelling Cleveland at Rogers Center.
July 28 is the day before the American League's All-Star Game starter is scheduled to make his next start in Seattle against the Mariners.
Given Halladay's status as one of the game's premier pitchers, Ricciardi said he believes it is only fair, to both the player and the team, to try to end the suspense sooner rather than later.
The GM added he does not believe he is handcuffing his team's chances of unloading their star asset for a package deal that most likely would have to include a bevy of young, blue chip prospects, by imposing an early deadline.
"He's Roy Halladay," Ricciardi said. "If they don't know about him now, if they have to wait until the 30th to figure it out, it's probably not going to happen."
Baseball's rumor mill continues to work overtime on the Halladay story.
Sports Illustrated has reported that the New York Mets turned down Toronto's request for top outfield prospect Fernando Martinez, young pitchers Bobby Parnell and Jon Niese and shortstop prospect Ruben Tejada in exchange for Halladay.
The Philadelphia Phillies have also been involved in discussions, according to reports, that have involved a package deal that includes Michael Taylor, a blue-chip outfield prospect.
Ricciardi won't say which teams he has spoken with, only that the interest has been considerable.
There have also been reports the Blue Jays are investigating the possibility of trading some of their other high-priced veterans such as Scott Rolen and Vernon Wells.
Ricciardi said right now his focus is entirely on Halladay's situation.
"The first thing we're concentrating on is if we're going to trade Doc, obviously," he said. "And if we are trading him, then we'll be open to doing other things. I think at this point it's probably unlikely that we'll trade Doc.
"So if we keep Doc, when you look at all the young pitchers who are here and the team that we could bring back, the general consensus with everybody here in the organization is that maybe next year we'll have a healthier team and a better chance of having a better run."
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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