NEW YORK — Roy Halladay has put the public squeeze on his longtime employers, increasing the likelihood that the Blue Jays will trade their ace before the start of spring training. The Yankees, Mets and Red Sox — the same teams involved in similar circumstances surrounding Johan Santana two years ago — hope to benefit.

Jeff Berry, who represents Halladay along with Greg Landry, told ESPN that, once the 32-year-old righthander reports to spring training, he’d exercise his no-trade clause to block any deals from that point forward. Halladay can be a free agent following the 2010 season, and the Blue Jays know they won’t be re-signing their immensely popular player.
“This will eliminate a repeat of the distracting media frenzy of 2009 for both Roy and his teammates, and will allow Roy to focus on pitching at the exceptional level Jays fans have come to expect,” Berry told ESPN.
An open question concerning Halladay is whether he would insist upon a contract extension in return for waiving his no-trade clause, or whether he’d be content finishing out his contract, then entering free agency a year from now.
Berry, in an e-mail, told Newsday on Tuesday, “Each potential trade scenario will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.”
The Yankees and Red Sox both appear reluctant to pay both prospects and huge dollars (a likely nine-figure contract extension) to get Halladay, and the rivals remain convinced that they’ll have to pay a higher price for the 2003 American League Cy Young Award winner because the Jays also play in the AL East.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, at a party honoring him as Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, said: “I don’t ever like to speak on hypotheticals, but it goes without saying, if you add a guy like that to any team, you’re going to make them instantly better.”
The Mets, given their shallow farm system and their significant commitment to Santana, appear a long shot to land Halladay. Should the Blue Jays shop Halladay as a one-year rental, then they couldn’t charge as high a price.