If the Dodgers want to make a splash this offseason, they certainly know the name to go after.
According to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, the Dodgers and Blue Jays have reopened talks about trading Roy Halladay. If you recall, Halladay was the hot name at last year's trade deadline, but then-Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi never pulled the trigger.
Here's why the Dodgers have been constantly pursuing this deal: Halladay is a bona fide ace, a perennial Cy Young candidate, and can match up and beat any other team's ace in a playoff series.
Simply put, if he's not the best pitcher in the game today, he's right up there.
As for the Blue Jays, they would seem foolish not to move Halladay since he's a free agent after the 2010 season. They could have had a bunch of stud prospects last year, but Ricciardi got cold feet. The new GM, Alex Anthopoulos, is now restarting talks.
In order to get someone of his Halladay's caliber, the Dodgers would easily need to say goodbye to at least Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw. Based on how last year unfolded, I'm sure they'd rather it be Billingsley. Also, a younger name like Russell Martin or James Loney. Or who knows, maybe both.
Needless to say, it will cost a lot. But it could be the shot in the arm the Dodgers need to get over the NLCS hump.
Like any rumor, it could go either way. Maybe the Dodgers are pursuing this heavily, maybe they've barely made mention of it. But the fact that any talk is happening is a good sign.
Stay tuned as the offseason unfolds, because this could turn into a huge story.
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