TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays used to ignore all trade offers for ace Roy Halladay.
Not anymore.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Tuesday that he's willing to listen to offers for his team's ace, although he insists he's not shopping the right-hander.
"I don't think anything has changed, I just think, `You know what, why not listen? The worst we can say is no,"' Ricciardi told The Canadian Press.
"If someone wants Roy and they're willing to blow us away, we'd be willing to listen, that's all I'm saying. That doesn't mean we'd trade him, that doesn't mean we're looking to trade him. All it means is we'd be willing to listen."
Ricciardi seemed to invite offers from Halladay during interviews with a pair of American outlets during the team's recent trip to New York.
He says that's not the case, and that his comments do not indicate Halladay's days with the team are numbered.
"In the past we weren't willing to listen and we figured let's just see what someone's got out there and what someone is willing to offer," he said.
Halladay is 10-2 with a 2.79 earned-run average in 16 starts this season, when he's due to make US$14.25 million.
His contract expires after the 2010 season, when he's set to earn $15.75 million.
