I am going to ask a question from a different perspective.
If you are JP Ricciardi, why would you choose NOT to deal Halladay?
1. The Blue Jays stand no chance of competing with the top 3 in the division this year, or the following, and they know they will be unable to re-sign him.
2. Halladay at this point, probably wants to be traded, instead of pitching for a dead team once again this September, putting up HOF numbers for a s***** club.
3. The Jays will probably not get much more for Halladay than right now, when teams like Boston are desperate for his services to solidify their rotation as they march forward to the playoffs?
Why would they not deal him right now at the deadline? Will JP be this stubborn? This deal could make or break his run as team GM, he might not even be around long enough to actually make the trade in the offseason, so why not do it, see just what Buchholz gives them and maybe save his job? I think the trade could actually HELP his status, unless Clay completely bombs.