Halladay Hints Change of Scenery Might Be Only Way to Get on Contender

ST. LOUIS -- Since the world found out the Blue Jays would listen to trade offers for ace Roy Halladay, he has said all he wants is a chance to go to the playoffs, whether in Toronto or somewhere else.

Then Tuesday, in an impromptu media session before taking the ball for the AL in the All-Star Game, Halladay hinted he thinks that his best chance to reach his goal is by leaving the Jays.

Toronto has some emerging offensive stars and the makings of a strong pitching staff if all the hurlers who have been hurt this year return to form. But Halladay, signed through 2010, also knows it would take a lot for the Jays to get past the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox.

"I think they have a lot of great pieces [in Toronto]," he said. "The tough part is, one, being in a tough division. But, two, I think sometimes you look at, we do have these guys and we think we can make a run but if we lose one or two – especially in the past years, we haven't been able to go out and get those couple of extra guys. That's just kind of beyond what we've been capable of doing.

"Everything has to go right. You need guys to play to their potential and then you need two or three guys that you didn't expect to step up. It's one of those things that you hope sometimes you're going to hit the jackpot, and we just haven't at this point. But there is a lot there, and there's a lot there to look forward to. It's just so hard for any of us to say it's going to be this [specific] year or this year or this year."

Philadelphia, St. Louis and the Los Angeles Angels seem to be candidates for Halladay -- although because Toronto seeks such a large package of prospects in return, it's a distinct possibility he is not traded this month.

Halladay said the decision to explore a trade was arrived at mutually between him and general manager J.P. Ricciardi over the course of a few conversations.

"Because I do like it in Toronto so much, I'm not hell-bent on trying to get out of there," Halladay said.

Then he added, "I think the biggest thing in talking with [Ricciardi] was just that I realize how short careers can be sometimes. ... Because of that, I realize my window [for winning a World Series] is getting shorter."

Halladay, scheduled to throw two innings, essentially said he would not need a contract extension to waive his full no-trade clause (and Ricciardi has said publicly he wouldn't allow a negotiating window anyway).

As for going to the National League, Halladay said, "It definitely is different. There would be an adjustment," but didn't rule it out.

Ricciardi and Halladay are said to have a close relationship, and one person who knows Ricciardi said the GM is probably keeping Halladay informed and wouldn't work on a trade unless it was with a team that would suit Halladay.

Halladay declined to discuss specific teams, but anyone willing to part with the players and dollars needed to get him would be a contender anyway.

"I've never been a person that had to be wooed," he said. "I know what I'm looking for. ... If things did come up, it would be a pretty easy decision."