MLB

FOX Sports Exclusive

Jays' GM: I doubt a Halladay trade will get done

Share This Story

Ken Rosenthal

Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since August 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter.

MORE>>
 
Updated Jul 30, 2009 11:24 PM ET
     
 
The Roy Halladay sweepstakes appear all but over, with no winner. "If we get through today and we're not anywhere, that would be a pretty good sign that it's done," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told FOXSports.com at 4 p.m. ET Thursday, 24 hours before the non-waiver deadline. "There are too many logistics for it to get done (tomorrow). For someone to come on the spot at the 11th hour, knowing they could have talked about this guy for a long time, I don't think that it's going to happen." Asked how many conversations he had with clubs on Thursday, Ricciardi said, "enough." But the Jays, according to a major-league source, were "very quiet." "I never thought that anything was going to happen," Ricciardi said. "We were asking for a lot. We knew we were asking for a lot. I don't think we were outrageous. We just asked for what we thought the best pitcher in baseball would bring. "We've got until tomorrow, but I would say it's probably less than likely to happen." Ricciardi earlier this week told the New York Post that if no deal was completed by the deadline, he probably would keep Halladay through next season, the final year of his contract. The GM indicated the same on Thursday, saying, "When free agency comes, Roy can make a decision on where he wants to go." Barring a reversal on Halladay in the next 24 hours, Ricciardi said he also will keep most of the Blue Jays who are under contract through 2010 and beyond, indicating that he would refrain from moving veterans such as third baseman Scott Rolen. Ricciardi even said that he probably would not trade shortstop Marco Scutaro, who could bring the Jays two high draft picks if he leaves as a free agent at the end of the season. If Halladay stays, so will most everyone else. "I don't think anything has changed from the day we said we would listen," Ricciardi said. "We listened. We said we had to be 'wowed' to move him. We haven't been." Asked if he were disappointed that no trade has occurred, Ricciardi said, "No, no, not at all. We weren't under any mandate to move him. We didn't have to move him for money. We said we would listen."
Perhaps the better question is how disappointed Halladay will be to remain with the Jays. The pitcher repeatedly has said he is happy in Toronto, but that wants to play for a contending team. The Jays could be competitive next season with Halladay at the top of their rotation, particularly if many of their injured pitchers return healthy. But competing against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays in the AL East — along with the improving Orioles — poses a unique challenge. Halladay values his privacy. Once Ricciardi said he would listen to trade offers, the pitcher suddenly was thrust into the spotlight. When Halladay was announced as the American League's starting pitcher for the All-Star Game, virtually all of the questions he answered at the news conference were about the possibility that he might get traded. "I understand," Ricciardi says. "As difficult as this has been for us, I'm sure it's been difficult for him. "We've gone down this path together, mainly because he deserves to be treated like that. All the information we had, he had. He expressed an interest in listening. We expressed an interest in listening. He's been step by step with us through this whole thing. "Once a player's name is out there in any way, shape or form, it's part of the process — he has to deal with it. It doesn't make it right or wrong. It's part of the business we're in."
Tagged: Blue Jays, Roy Halladay, Marco Scutaro

More Stories From Ken Rosenthal

FOX Fantasy Baseball Game 2012


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

MLB Videos

Morosi: NL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the NL headlines going into spring...

Braves honor local heroes Posted: Feb 09, 2012
The Braves visit an Atlanta fire station to show their appreciation to some of t...

Morosi: AL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the AL headlines heading into spri...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
SimLeague Baseball - Simulation Baseball Game

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Cubs/browse/featuredproduct/250780/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_250000/FF_250780_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Red_Sox/browse/featuredproduct/605356/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605356_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt
    New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Yankees/browse/featuredproduct/605557/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605557_xl.jpg&w=100 16.95 New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat
    Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oakland_Athletics/browse/featuredproduct/606322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_606000/ff_606322_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt
    Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Philadelphia_Phillies/browse/featuredproduct/626447/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_626000/ff_626447_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet
    New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Colorado_Rockies/browse/featuredproduct/644117/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_644000/ff_644117_xl.jpg&w=100 28.95 New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat
    Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Texas_Rangers/browse/featuredproduct/722692/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722692_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch
    Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/723016/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_723000/ff_723016_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoo..
    Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim/browse/featuredproduct/777026/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_777000/ff_777026_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft