July 8 -- TAKING A HALLADAY?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, if I'm Ruben Amaro Jr., and I read the comments made yesterday by Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, I immediately do a few things:

1. Put Ricciardi on speed dial.
2. Keep calling until I work out a deal for Roy Halladay.

Halladay is, quite simply, the best pitcher in the American League. No offense to Josh Beckett or CC Sabathia or Zack Greinke or Justin Verlander or anybody else, but none of them are Halladay, who will take a 10-2 record, a 2.79 ERA, 98 strikeouts in 116 innings and three complete games to the mound tomorrow night at Tampa Bay. And it isn't just this season, either. Since 2002, Halladay has a 3.16 ERA and 40 -- 40! -- complete games. In five of the last seven seasons, he has pitched at least 220 innings. He won the Cy Young Award in 2003 and finished in the top five in 2006 (3rd), 2007 (5th) and 2008 (2nd). He's only 32, and he's never had significant arm trouble (though he did spend time on the disabled list last month with a groin injury). And, although the Jays play in the AL East and face the Red Sox and Yankees almost 20 times per season, he's 123-51 since 2002.

Charlie Manuel says he wants a horse. Halladay is the Secretariat of pitchers.

So, when Ricciardi said yesterday that he's "willing to listen" to offers for Halladay, it suddenly spiced up a previously bland trade market. Of course, the Jays won't give away Halladay, and if they're wise, they'll shed the necessary portion of their $81 million payroll by moving the long-term contracts of Vernon Wells and/or Alex Rios rather than their ace pitcher. But if Ricciardi is willing to listen, Amaro must be willing to bend his ear, and all indications are that he will. (Bet on the Phillies having at least one scout at each of Halladay's starts between tomorrow night and July 31.) Here, though, are a few things to consider:

a) Halladay has about $23 million remaining on his contract (approximately $7 million more this season and $15.75 million next year) before becoming a free agent. The Phillies' payroll has reached a franchise-record $132 million, and they already have about $95.5 million committed to only 11 players for 2010. How much higher can their payroll go?

b) Halladay has a full no-trade clause. Would he waive it to come to the typically weaker National League? Absolutely. Would he waive it to come to Citizens Bank Park? Hmmm.

c) The Jays most likely would want a package that includes a top prospect (think right-hander Kyle Drabek), a few mid-level prospects (think slugging outfielder Michael Taylor or catcher Lou Marson), and perhaps even a player on the major-league roster (think J.A. Happ or Antonio Bastardo). They're also looking for a shortstop, and the Phils may be able to sell them on Jason Donald, who has played two rehab games in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League after having minor knee surgery last month. It's believed the Phillies regard Drabek, touted outfielder Dominic Brown and Class A right-hander Jason Knapp as "untouchables," but might they change their mind if Halladay is on the table? Should they?

One thing seems certain: If the Phillies trade for Halladay, it would have to be one of those five-for-one, Von Hayes-style swaps, and the cost will be steep. For Halladay, though, it may be worth it. Just think about a rotation that features the righty-lefty punch of Halladay and Cole Hamels, with Joe Blanton, Happ and Jamie Moyer picking up the rear. And if Drabek (pictured) is the bait, well, the Phillies would still have Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery, Vance Worley, Michael Stutes, Yohan Flande and other promising arms in the farm system.

So, how much would you give up for Halladay?

***
Seattle lefty Erik Bedard made his return to the mound last night with mixed reviews. Limited to 72 pitches in his first start back from a shoulder problem, he allowed two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out eight, but lasted only four innings. If the Mariners join the ranks of the sellers, both Bedard (5-2, 2.58) and Jarrod Washburn (5-6, 3.08) will draw the Phillies' interest.

***
In the seventh inning last night, Manuel made the eyebrows-raising decision to pinch-hit .147-hitting Eric Bruntlett. Manuel later explained that, with runners on the corners in a tie game, the Phillies needed only a hit, not a home run, and he felt Bruntlett had a better chance of making contact than Chris Coste or John Mayberry Jr.

I disagree. But, really, the fact that we're debating the various merits of Bruntlett, Coste and Mayberry just hammers home the point that the Phillies sorely need another right-handed bat off the bench, doesn't it?