Halladay reportedly would accept trade to Yankees
Photo credit: AP | File - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay reacts while giving up three runs to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto. (Aug. 24, 2009)
Galleries
Top MLB free agents: A different spin
Roy Halladay reportedly would accept a trade to the Yankees, but they haven't really been concerned about that part of the equation. They, and the Red Sox, are much more worried about the same factors that ultimately led neither team to acquire Johan Santana two years ago.
The Toronto Sun reported Saturday that Halladay, who has full no-trade protection, has notified the Blue Jays that he would approve a trade to the Yankees. That won't shock anyone. Halladay makes his full-time home in the Tampa area, so pitching for the Yankees would not only meet his need to pitch for a contending club but allow him to commute to the Yankees' spring training home at Steinbrenner Field.
ESPN's Buster Olney recently reported that Halladay prefers the Red Sox, Phillies and Angels in addition to the Yankees.
Although new Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has said he won't charge the Yankees and Red Sox a premium to trade Halladay - perhaps the most popular player in the franchise's history - within the American League East, the New York and Boston rivals aren't quite sold on that.
In any case, both sides would have reservations about paying the same "double" price for Halladay that the Mets ultimately did for Santana in February 2008: top prospects for a trade, plus a market-value contract extension, as if Halladay were a free agent.
The Mets at least got by in giving up an unimpressive batch of young players. It's unlikely the Yankees (with Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero the most obvious candidates) and Red Sox (Clay Buchholz and Casey Kelly) would be as fortunate.
