Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire

The Blue Jays have decided to listen to inquiries about Roy Halladay. Will they actually trade him?

By Peter Gammons, ESPN

After John McDonald homered Monday and the Blue Jays escaped from The House That Jetes Built with one win in four games, reality set in. Toronto might have been two games over .500 with a run differential of plus-36 after the victory, but the Jays had three teams in front of them, three of the best teams in baseball, in the AL East.

Oh, they were only 1½ games behind Tampa Bay when Tuesday dawned, but to even think about the postseason, they had to make up six games on the Yankees and seven on the Red Sox -- and do it without four-fifths of their opening day rotation.

Not happening, especially when ownership would like to pare some more payroll. Vernon Wells has almost $98.5 million coming through 2014. Alex Rios has $58.7 million due in that same span. Next year, B.J. Ryan is owed $10 million and Scott Rolen has $11 million coming. So general manager J.P. Ricciardi has let other teams know his ears are open and he is taking calls.

"We'd be crazy not to listen," he said. "So we'll see what people have to say."

And that willingness to listen includes the sport's most reliable pitcher, Roy Halladay, who is signed through next season at $15.75M.

"Look, we have Halladay through 2010, he makes us a contender with the young pitching we have, then we get two draft picks," Ricciardi said. "So anyone who comes to us with two young players -- that's the equivalent of the draft picks -- we'd need something else and something else and something else and something else.

"That doesn't mean we're going to trade him. But we'll listen to what people have to say."

The Yankees could jump in, less likely the Red Sox. Do the Phillies or White Sox have enough? The Dodgers won't give Clayton Kershaw and probably can't take on the money owed Halladay. But it will be fascinating.

There might be clubs interested in Rios or Rolen, and Boston most likely would be interested in Marco Scutaro (even as the Red Sox try to sign former Jays infielder Russ Adams). But Ricciardi won't touch his young core, namely Aaron Hill and Ricky Romero.

"I doubt anything will happen with Halladay," Ricciardi said. "But if someone wants to talk seriously, we'll listen."

Past Baseball Tonight Clubhouses: July 6 | July 5 | July 2 | July 1 | June 30

TOUCH 'EM ALL

Who went deep? Keep track of all the home runs hit each day on "Baseball Tonight" and on the Baseball Tonight Clubhouse page.

For more, check out the Home Run Tracker page.

Home Run Tracker
NAME	HR	OPP	PITCHER	SITUATION
S. Hairston, Oak	11	Bos	Beckett	Top 1: 1-0, 2 Outs. None on.
M. Cabrera, Det	17	KC	Chen	Bot 1: 2-1, 2 Outs. None on.
R. Howard, Phi	21	Cin	Harang	Bot 2: 0-0, 0 Outs. None on.
J. Bay, Bos	20	Oak	Eveland	Bot 2: 1-2, 0 Outs. None on.
J. Werth, Phi	18	Cin	Harang	Bot 2: 3-2, 0 Outs. None on.
P. Polanco, Det	6	KC	Chen	Bot 3: 0-1, 2 Outs. 1 on.

The complete list of Tuesday's homers

ON DECK: WEDNESDAY'S BEST MATCHUPS

Blue Jays at Rays, 7:08 p.m. ET

The Rays are hoping the past two starts from Scott Kazmir are a sign that things are turning in the lefty's favor. Although both outings were short -- he lasted just five innings each time -- Kazmir allowed only three earned runs against Florida and Texas, lowering his ERA from 7.69 to 6.79.

Dodgers at Mets, 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN

Oliver Perez, out since May 2, makes his return from the disabled list. The left-hander had struggled before injuring his knee, going 1-2 with a 9.97 ERA. Perez will have to learn on the job against Manny Ramirez, whom he has never faced before.

Cardinals at Brewers, 8:05 p.m. ET

The Cardinals opened the series by getting to Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo, extending St. Louis' lead in the NL Central to two games. The Cardinals have won the past three meetings with the Brewers.

For the rest of Wednesday's schedule, click here.