Last July Toronto Blue Jays ace pitcher Roy Halladay was the main media focus leading up to the Major League Baseball trade deadline.

So much so that the frequent questions seemed to distract the pitcher, especially during his first starting appearance in an All-Star game, where Halladay allowed all three National League runs for the game over his two innings of work.

This year will not be a facsimile of last season as Halladay has let the media know via Jeff Berry (who works closely with Halladay’s agent Greg Landry) that he will veto any trades made throughout next season allowing him to focus on the game of baseball rather than deal with media speculation.

Berry, in an interview with ESPN.com stated:

“One thing is certain — once Roy reports to Spring Training as a member of the Blue Jays, from that point forward he will not approve or even discuss any potential trade scenario,”

“This will eliminate a repeat of the distracting media frenzy of 2009 for both Roy and his teammates, and will allow Roy to focus on pitching at the exceptional level Jays fans have come to expect.”

What does this mean for the Toronto Blue Jays?

It means that if the Jays want to receive more than draft pick compensation for Halladay if he leaves via free agency after the 2010 season new general manager Alex Anthopoulos will have to move the 2003 Cy Young Award winner soon.

In an email to ESPN Anthopoulos had this to say:

“We don’t comment on anything with respect to trade rumors or speculation involving our players,”

“With respect to Roy, we understand that due to his place with the Toronto Blue Jays, the events last summer and his contractual situation that his future will continue to be discussed and speculated about.

“One thing that I feel is important to reiterate is that Roy Halladay has made it very clear that he loves the city of Toronto and the Blue Jays organization. That being said, Roy has also made it clear that his number-one priority is to pitch in the postseason, and his hope is that it would be with the Toronto Blue Jays.”

Most recently Halladay’s name has come up in trade speculation with the Boston Red Sox, with the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim also interested in the workhorse.

Could Clay Buchholz be coming Toronto's way?

The Red Sox seem willing to move Clay Buchholz and another prospect to Toronto for Halladay, but the Jays want the Red Sox Casey Kelly to be that individual and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein seems reluctant to make such a move, as Kelly is high on Epstein’s personal depth chart.

The Yankees, Phillies & Angels were also interested in Halladay at last season’s trade deadline with the Phillies nearly pulling off a blockbuster move.

The move was eventually axed due to the resistance by the Phillies to include pitching prospect Kyle Drabek as part of a deal for Halladay.

The Phillies eventually landed former Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee from the Cleveland Indians instead.

Halladay has stated numerous times since his name arose at last season’s trade deadline that he wants to pitch in the postseason, whether it is in a Jays uniform or not.

Halladay, easily one of the best starting pitchers of his era has never pitched in a postseason game.

Will the Jays Alex Anthopoulos make the big deal trading quite possibly the best Blue Jay of all time?

Team/Player Photos: Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Blue Jays on Jul 28, 2010

Or will Halladay pitch out the season and leave via free agency as the Jays look to rebuild?

It’s just another hectic day in the baseball world of Toronto as the media and fans alike wait to see where the Jays will go next.