A couple of reports speculate that Blue Jays are asking for a couple of young right-handers in order to deal their ace.
The Boston Red Sox are in talks with the Toronto Blue Jays to bring starting pitcher Roy Halladay to Massaschusetts, according to a couple of reports.
The New York Daily News reported Wednesday that the Red Sox are putting on a full-court press to bring the former Cy Young Award winner to Boston, and want to have a deal done before the winter meetings start in Indianapolis on Dec. 7. The newspaper speculated that the Blue Jays would ask for Clay Buchholz and Casey Kelly, the two most promising right-handers in the Boston organization, in return for their star pitcher.
Adding Halladay would give the Red Sox a starting pitching trio of Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, although it has also been reported that the World Series-champion New York Yankees would like to team Halladay with CC Sabathia and former Toronto teammate A.J. Burnett in the Bronx.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has also spoken with the Los Angeles Dodgers about Halladay, according to several reports.
Halladay has indicated to Blue Jays management that he wants to play for a contender. His current contract expires after the 2010 season.
Club president and CEO Paul Beeston stirred up a hornets nest last weekend by telling the New York Post that Halladay, is not inclined to sign with us.
The innocuous comment generated plenty of reaction but it was nothing new, and nothing the public hasnt known since July, when former general manager J.P. Ricciardi revealed that Halladay wouldnt sign an extension before his contract expires next fall.
So Beeston was rightly left scratching his head Monday as to why his words were being treated as big news. The status of things is the same now as it was then.
There is nothing that has changed whatsoever, Beeston said Monday. Wed love to have him here for the very long term but at the very end of the day, in his mind, until he sees that were getting to the post-season, the post-season will trump any type of contract.
We respect him for that. … Theres no animosity. Hes just not inclined to sign with us.
