So What Do We Do With Halladay? MUST READ

The Doc was on display on Tuesday night, starting for the American League All-stars, a testimony to his great start to the 2009 season.  The imposing righty has put up excellent numbers going 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA.  The question that remains is whether Riccardi will listen to offers like he told the media.  Is there a team in the majors who will part with the kind of combo of prospects and major league ready players needed to swoop for Halladay?  If we look to the past and analyze some other major trades for ace pitchers, it might give us some background into the kind of work needed to pull of a trade like this.When Josh Beckett was traded to the Red Sox from the Florida Marlins, two other players were packaged with Beckett (including Mike Lowell) while four prospects were sent the other way.  One of those prospects turned out to be Hanley Ramirez.  The current shortstop for the Marlins is an all-star, playing everyday batting .349 with 14 homers and 61 RBI'S.  The other prospects have undoubtedly not been as successful, but Florida gained as much from trading away Mike Lowell than they did from receiving.  Before moving to Boston, Mike Lowell's bat was going dead in Florida, putting up weak numbers while earning $18 million a year.  Boston picked up his entire contract in the trade, allowing Florida to dump a contract they did not want while picking up prospects.There is an idea the Jays may do something similar.  No one understands what is happening to Vernon Wells.  Before the signing of his multi-year mega million dollar contract, he had shown signs of being one of the best outfielders and all around hitters in the league.  Now, Jays fans are simply happy when he hits an RBI single.  On paper, the names Vernon Wells, Alex Rios and Adam Lind made a formidable outfield, but with Travis Snider needing a bit more time in the minors, do we really need Wells around anymore?  It may be a bit impulsive, but the Jays could pull a similar salary dump move that the Marlins did.  Doing this will limit the amount of teams we can make trades to, because after all, how many teams can make a midseason trade and take on the millions of dollars in both Halladay's and Wells' contracts.Looking at another trade avenue, remember Bartolo Colon?  When he was traded from Cleveland to Montreal in 2002, his numbers were as such: 20-8 with a 2.93 ERA in 233.1 innings.  He also had three shutouts and eight complete games.  Sounds VERY SIMILAR to the kind of numbers Halladay puts up eh?Anyway, Cleveland traded him to Montreal for a handful of prospects, who are now some of the brightest names in baseball.  The five tool talent Grady SIzemore, the reigning American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, and a 30-home run hitter named Brandon Phillips (who now plays for Cincinnati) were all sent to Cleveland.The Jays can go this route and accept major prospects, but if this is done, we Jays fans have to accept that it will be another few years until we have a contending team.In my own opinion, I would love to keep Halladay.  He is an absolute workhouse who I believe to be completely invaluable on and off the field.  He is a true ace, and an inspiration to the group of young starting pitchers we have coming up.  If there were any pitcher in the league I would want prospects looking up to, it is definitely Roy Halladay.For anyone who understands this reference, lets just hope Riccardi does not rush this trade and do what Rob Babcock did with Vince Carter while with the Raptors.