Bernadette, Halladay plays for the Blue Jays not the Mets.

The basic logic is that the Blue Jays are essentially looking at a lost season. There is no way they can compete this year, and I would argue there is no way they can compete next year. As such, the best thing they can do is try to prepare for the future. Halladay is signed through next year, so at that point Halladay will leave and (to keep it simple) the Blue Jays will basically get nothing. Therefore, instead of paying Halladay his (pretty sizeable) salary this year and next, with no chance of competing, the Blue Jays are trying to trade for a package of prospects who they can build the future team around and save money.

As for Halladay’s desire to be traded. I’m not really sure. I can’t imagine he loves playing for Toronto where they compete annually for the chance to be 3rd (and out of the playoffs) in the AL East. If Halladay went to St. Louis, Philadephia or Los Angeles he’d get to experience a playoff race for the first time in his career. I can’t imagine he’d find that too objectionable.