The Yakker

Get used to seeing Halladay in this uniform.

As probably the only loyal Toronto Blue Jays fan in Minnesota for the last 22 years, this week has been a long time coming. The reality that no one is talking about is that it probably still will be. The Jays officially listed Roy Halladay on Major League Baseball’s equivalent to trade market eBay this week and did so half heartedly.

“We’re not going to give the guy away,” general manager J.P. Ricciardi told MLB.com in a phone interview. “We’d be willing to listen. That doesn’t mean we’d be willing to trade.”

Halladay is signed through the 2010 season at a salary not unreasonable for a premium starting pitcher in today’s market (prorated $14.25 million this season and $15.75 mil next season). While the impact a deal might have a team’s farm system would be significant, that is a bargain for anytime looking to shore up their rotation, including the rumored Phillies, Angels, Giants, Dodgers, and Cardinals. But while the number of blog posts since Roy hit the market likely rivals the MIchael Jackson news feeds, I’m not convinced the Jays ace will be dealt this year or this offseason.

Why?

On one level there is the GM’s language the must confuse everyone from the Rogers Centre’s hotdog vendor to the nearest rival GM. Right after seemingly putting him on the market, Ricciardi told MLB.com, “I don’t think anything’s changed, it’s not like we’re moving him.” Beyond this, both Halladay and the Jays have made it clear that they intend to negotiate a contract extension this coming offseason. The bottom line is fantasy owners don’t need to worry about how Doc Halladay’s fantasy value may be affected by a potential relocation. Once the buzz wears off, more analysts will realize this fact.