Posted by Zach Sanders on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Rumors are once again floating around that the Toronto Blue Jays are considering dealing Roy Halladay if the price is right. General Manager J.P. Ricciardi said “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.”

It’s a shame that he had to make these comments, as I was just beginning to like him.

What would be the reason for trading Halladay? He has one year left on his deal, so it’s not like they are worried about losing him after the year. Others have pointed to the Jays financial commitments to Vernon Wells and Alex Rios in the coming years, but I don’t buy that as a legit reason to deal your best player when he is still under contract.

Halladay is a perennial Cy Young contender, and could be well on his way to winning another this year or next. Sure, the Jays aren’t in the race this year, but that could all change in 2010. Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum should be healthy next year, giving Halladay some help in the rotation. Adam Lind will continue to grow and develop, as well as countless other youngsters.

If things don’t go as planned next year, then Halladay will be a valuable trade piece to be dealt to a contender. I understand the need to deal him now, because teams won’t just be getting a rental, but I don’t see the need to deal him because of financial issues. Teams should be planning ahead with the budgets, and not giving out big extensions in years they can’t afford them.

However, if the Blue Jays can get the kind of package the Indians got for dealing Big Fat Bartolo Colon (Sizemore, Lee, Brandon Phillips), it could be worth it to deal now. I think the package needs to be better than what Cleveland received to make this deal defensible, because it will be putting the club back a few years due to their lack of a big game ace, when they could have been competing otherwise.

I want to like you, J.P., I really do. But you’re making it tough on me.