by Michael DeLuca
Yesterday, I mused about the possibility of the Philadelphia Phillies acquiring Roy Halladay. Today, the dream seems a 
bit closer to reality. Here are the most recent comments from Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, “We have to see what’s out there. I’m not saying we’re going to shop him. But if something makes sense, we at least have to listen. We’re (leaning) more toward listening than we’ve ever been.” Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports believes these recent comments are a clear indication that the Roy Halladay sweepstakes have begun. Says Rosenthal, “Once this process starts, it’s almost impossible to stop. Rest assured, the Jays are assembling prospect lists and preparing to assign their scouts to investigate rival farm systems. Halladay is a goner. It’s just a matter of when and where.”
Early rumblings have the Phillies and Brewers being the favorites in the race for Roy. Both teams have made no secret of their desire for a front line pitcher. Both have top level prospects. Most significantly for the Jays, both are in the National League.
UPDATE: Jon Heyman of SI.com has chimed in on “The Race For Roy,” twitting that if Halladay is really available, he believes the Yankees and Phils would be the frontrunners, followed by the Angels.
I’m usually the last guy to be willing to mortgage the future on a single player. But Halladay’s worth it.