ST. LOUIS — Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, who has been made available by his general manager J.P. Ricciardi, indicated Monday that he was open to playing for the Yankees.

The Yankees are not optimistic that they’ll land the 33-year-old right-hander, as they believe that Toronto is reluctant to trade Halladay within the American League East. The Phillies are generally regarded as the favorites to land Halladay.
But should other suitors fall short and the Yankees offer a significant package out of their improving farm system, Halladay expressed positive feelings about the Bronx Monday, after being introduced as the American League’s starting pitcher for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
“There’s a point in your career where you know need to take a chance and try it, and win,” Halladay, who has a full no-trade clause, said in general of playing in a market larger than Toronto. “I’ve always hoped that’s going to be Toronto. I’ve believed in what we’ve done. It could still be.
“But I think at this point, I’m ready to take a chance on trying to win. Again, I honestly hope that it’s in Toronto. But you never know.”
Halladay surrendered three home runs in his July 4 start in the Bronx, his first start at the new Yankee Stadium, and he laughed Monday when a reporter asked him about making the ballpark his new home.
“It wasn’t a lot of fun the one time we went there,” Halladay said. “It’s baseball everywhere. Both sides are playing the same field.”
The right-hander danced around the topic of whether he would demand something — like a contract extension, for instance — in return for waiving his no-trade clause. He did make clear, however, that he would gladly switch to the National League.
“I think once you go from the American League East, not that there aren’t great teams out there ... it’s a tough division,” Halladay said. “I’d rather hit than have to face (Derek) Jeter and A-Rod, (Hideki) Matsui and (Mark) Teixeira and all of the other guys. I think it’s a little different when you’re coming from someplace like that.”