THREE DAYS after the Daily News wrote that the Red Sox were “putting on a full-court press” to trade for Roy Halladay, a report out of Canada says the Toronto ace has told the Blue Jays he would waive his no-trade clause for a deal – to the Yankees.

A story on Canada’s Slam Sports Web site Friday quoted an unnamed major league executive as saying, “I don’t know when he is going and I don’t know where he’s going. But I do know that Halladay has told the Jays he’ll approve a trade to the Yankees.” The story was written by Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, a nominee this year for election to the writer’s wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

A baseball source said all was quiet when asked Friday if a Halladay-to-the Yankees trade was imminent.

Halladay, 32, has used his full no-trade power in the past – last season he said he would not approve deals to either Minnesota  or Texas, but that roadblock appears to be out of the way for a potential Yankee trade.

Halladay, who has a career record of 148-76 with a 3.43 ERA in 12 years in Toronto, has one year left on a three-year, $40 million deal. He’s slated to earn $15.75 million next year and become a free agent after the season, unless he is traded and reaches an agreement on a megabucks contract extension.

New Toronto GM Alex Anthopolous has said he would deal Halladay within the AL East, if that’s where the best deal was for the Jays. Team president Paul Beeston  was quoted recently saying that Halladay – a six-time All-Star and the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner – did not want to re-sign with Toronto.

“They’re going to have to move him,” a major-league scout said recently.

The News reported in Wednesday’s editions that the Red Sox were hoping to get a deal for Halladay wrapped up before the beginning of the winter meetings Dec. 7, according to a source. The Yanks or Sox would have to part with a package of young major-leaguers and top prospects and, likely, offer a large contract extension, in any deal. Other big-market teams such as the Angels could get involved, too.

When Johan Santana became available in similar circumstances in 2007, the Yankees did not trade for him, figuring they would rather take a crack at CC Sabathia in free agency after the 2008 season rather than have to give up players and sign Santana to an expensive extension.

The Yankees are scheduled to meet next week to discuss their 2010 budget. GM Brian Cashman said earlier in the week that he had not yet engaged the agents for free agent players, but he confirmed that he has spoken to multiple teams, including the Blue Jays, about trade possibilities.

Halladay was a mentor of sorts to the Yankees’ A.J. Burnett when the two were teammates in Toronto, and Burnett has given Halladay credit for helping him mature as a pitcher.

Halladay would give the Yankees an imposing front three in their rotation, alongside Sabathia and Burnett. The Yanks hope to re-sign Andy Pettitte, too, which would add depth to the rotation, which they would likely need in the event of a Halladay deal, because they probably would have to surrender either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain in the trade.

Read more:http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/11/28/2009-11-28_report_blue_jays_roy_halladay_would_waive_notrade_clause_.html#ixzz0YBtqdJLF