GM J.P. Ricciardi said on Tuesday that if the team moves ace pitcher Roy Halladay, a trade will have to be agreed to by July 28.
According to the Associated Press, Ricciardi believes that the nuances and possible complications of getting a deal done would require extra time.
"It's such a magnitude, the trade," Ricciardi told the AP. "[Halladay's] got to OK the team he's going
to, we've got to agree on prospects. That doesn't happen, traditionally
in baseball, in one hour. I think we need a little more time than that."
Though the potential for a Halladay trade has been the talk of the baseball world in recent weeks, the chances of it actually happening seem to be dwindling by the day — especially with all of Toronto's stipulations. Aside from needing to strike an agreement by the Blue Jays' deadline, any team that trades for Halladay might have to take on Vernon Wells' burdensome contract and would not be able to negotiate an extension with Halladay until after the transaction was processed.
Ricciardi told the AP that he doubts any team will approach him with the necessary resolve to get a deal done.
"No one has really stepped up yet," Ricciardi said. "We've got to be
highly motivated to move him. We haven't been highly motivated yet.
"At this point, it's probably unlikely that we'll trade Doc."
