Teams stepping up in Halladay trade talks

Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi on Thursday said Roy Halladay trade talks are picking up, even though he remained pessimistic about the chances of completing a deal.

Ricciardi added that a few new teams — the Tampa Bay Rays believed to be among them — have stepped into the mix, although the big dollars remaining on Halladay's contract may be an issue for them.

"I think some of those teams are interested, they're trying to maybe move some pieces that they have to acquire the player," Ricciardi said before Thursday's game versus the Cleveland Indians.

"They've got to go through their exercise, but that's not our problem."

Even though the nature of talks were "a little bit more heated up," Ricciardi turned to his oft-repeated public stance that "my gut says no, that's just my gut," when asked about the chances of getting something done.

The latest bit of posturing came before Ricciardi went on the radio and confirmed that Halladay had told the team he would not sign an extension before his contract expires after the 2010 season, something that's been obvious from the get-go.

"I think what's changed is Roy has told us that he is going to test the free-agent market," Ricciardi told the Fan 590, a Toronto all-sports radio station. "I think knowing that we're not going to be able to retain Roy, or getting in line for his services now as opposed to having sole rights to have him, we wouldn't be doing our job if we weren't exploring.

"We can also make a trade like this and turn our franchise around, we're in better shape in '11 and '12 going forward, than we would be if we hold on to all these players. So all we're doing is getting it out there and seeing what makes us best."

If Halladay is to be shipped elsewhere, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told reporters Tuesday, he would like to complete a trade for the former American League Cy Young Award winner by July 28.

Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET on July 31.

Halladay, 32, has a no-trade clause and is signed through next season, when he is slated to make $15.75 million US.

Halladay has an 11-3 record, 2.73 earned-run average and four complete games in 18 starts this season, his 12th with Toronto.

The Denver native has struck out 113 batters and walked just 17 in 132 innings pitched, and earned the start in last week's all-star game at St. Louis.