< Back to Front Page Text size – +

Ricciardi getting plenty of calls on Halladay

Email|Link|Comments (12) Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff July 8, 2009 03:25 PM

Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said today he's already received "several calls" from interested teams for pitching ace Roy Halladay, but he also said hold your horses.

"It would take a lot for us to part with him," Ricciardi said. "We've gotten a lot of calls from teams but none of them are telling us at this point what they're willing to give up. If you're coming at us with a 'B" list of young players, don't bother. This is one of the five best players in baseball. It's going to take a significant package of players for us to even listen. So as the teams call we'll go through the ones we feel are the serious ones and then we'll start scouting their farm systems to see if there's anything we can do."

Boston, Philadelphia, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and surely others would all covet Halladay. Ricciardi would probably like to avoid trading him within the division but he appears open to anything.

Does he think he'll make a trade before the July 31 deadline?

"My gut feeling is no we won't because there aren't too many teams out there who are willing to give us the significant package of prospects we would need to make this go. Teams protect their prospects," he said.

Ricciardi said he doesn't think making Halladay available will send any message to his own team. The Jays are 43-42 and eight games behind first place starting the day. In other divisions the Jays would be in the race. Ricciardi said the one thing the Jays have is good young pitching with Halladay at the front. Ricciardi said if Halladay stayed through 2010, the Jays would receive two top draft picks compensation. The Jays could also be a very good team in 2010 if Halladay is at the top of the rotation along with the younger pitchers.

« Back to Front Page

12 comments so far...

So, did Ricciardi in some evil genius mastermind sort of way decide if the Jays couldn't win this year, they would be the most talked about team in the AL East this year which might just make they attractive to say, Matt Holliday, Jason Bay or some other free agent next year? Or is he like, ugh, what did I do?

Posted by Kate July 8, 09 03:47 PM

All speculation re Doc coming to Boston is a G.D. waste of time.
Let's all find something better to do with our lives.

Posted by Oil Can Boyd July 8, 09 04:09 PM

Matsuzaka, Bucholz and Masterson should do it.
NY could offer Chamberlain, Hughes, Cabrera and likely get it done sooner. Not sure NY would do that deal though but if they would it is a no brainer for Ricciardi.
Hurry up Theo, time's a wastin'

Posted by Bob Griese July 8, 09 04:24 PM

Personally I think the Red Sox front office will once again be very torn on this issue and thats why your not hearing a lot about it right now cause this situation reminds me a lot of the Josh Beckett pursuit. Eventually they got their man for a heavy price but Theo had to leave in a gorilla costume before it got done.Ultimately I don t see this getting done because Theo has never traded away significant prospects and is much more comfortable dumping superstars that have grown bad for the team ala Manny or Nomar at the time. Is this a guy you go get to make you the favorites for maybe two or more rings I say undoubtedly yes. Theo won't give up the kings ransom though. Instead theyll make a play for Chapman or try to lure over Darvish

Posted by Jimmy H July 8, 09 04:43 PM

Personally I think he's kicking the tires to see if her can really hold somebody up. "It would take a lot for us to part with him," Ricciardi said - Translation to me is give up your best 4 or 5 prospects so we can re-stock our team. I don't think anyone will do it.

Posted by The 5th Element July 8, 09 05:34 PM

fit him for pinstripes

Posted by jonathan July 8, 09 06:17 PM

One of my friends told me that the Blue Jays play for 3rd place every year. If they can hold on this year, then that's a championship in their eyes! Isn't Toronto a hockey town anyway? Why don't we bring the Montreal Expos back?

Posted by Rico July 8, 09 07:23 PM

Halladay a Red Sox?

Wouldnt that be something!

Posted by Curtis D Stone July 8, 09 08:12 PM

not interested. Why would we give up anyone for someone who might have a hard time finding her way into the rotation?

Posted by george Johnson July 8, 09 08:20 PM

If Halladay ends up with Boston or NY, Toronto should be contracted and Riccardi fired.

Posted by Classless July 8, 09 08:45 PM

wow. one day leak that he's available and the next say you think you'll keep him. shockingly great job at posturing. Not saying I wouldn't do the same thing if I were Ricciardi but kind of transparent don't you think?

Posted by bskee July 8, 09 10:38 PM

Castiglione talks about his legendary dad on www.BigAppleChannel.com

Posted by Andrew Sansone July 10, 09 01:24 PM