I’m beginning to think Toronto Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi is just yanking everyone’s chain. Ricciardi has set a July 28 trade deadline for a possible deal for All-Star pitcher Roy Halladay (even though the MLB deadline is July 31) and he says he has yet to receive an appropriate trade offer and expects Halladay to remain with the team.
He’s probably right. But then that was probably his plan all along. Ever since he announced that he was willing to trade Halladay, Ricciardi seemed more interested in “kicking tires” than making a deal. Ricciardi is like a homeowner who wants to test the waters of the housing market by putting his house up for sale just to see what kind of offers he’ll get. Can anyone take Ricciardi seriously? And why would he make such a huge announcement over wanting to trade Halladay? If he wants to trade his ace, wouldn’t it be easier to work a deal under the radar without all the fanfare? No need for all the smoke and mirrors.
Why trade Halladay at all? It’s not as if the Jays have been a bottom-dwelling team these past few seasons. Currently, they are in fourth place, 10 games behind the division-leading Yankees. The Jays have strong pitching, and some good young players who will help this team down the road. They just have the misfortune of playing in the highly competitive AL East with the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays.
Two things I know about baseball: you never trade away your best player, and you never give away the farm. Wouldn’t you rather keep your star player and rebuild around him? The Jays can be even more competitive by keeping Halladay and developing the young players they have.
As for potential buyers, I don’t see any team currently in contention that is so desperate for a starter that they are willing to give up several of their best prospects. Ricciardi wants too much in return for his ace. Come August 1, Halladay will remain a Jay.
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