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Blue Jays-Mariners Preview

Jul 29, 2009 - 6:24 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (49-52) at Seattle (52-48), 4:40 p.m. EDT

With one deadline come and gone, Roy Halladay is still a member of the Toronto Blue Jays as another approaches.

Despite being the most-sought after player on the trade market, Halladay is expected to start for the Blue Jays on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

Now that Tuesday's self-imposed deadline Toronto set for any deal involving Halladay (11-3, 2.62 ERA) has passed, the six-time All-Star could very much remain with the Blue Jays (49-52) even after Friday's major league trade deadline.

"To move that kind of player you have to have that blockbuster deal and it doesn't look like anybody wants to give that blockbuster deal," Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay said. "I don't see him leaving just quite yet."

While the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies have expressed the most public interest in Halladay, neither team appeared able to come to terms on a deal, making it likely the 32-year-old right-hander will make this start and more for the Blue Jays.

"If there was an urgency to be somewhere else and an urgency from the team to have me somewhere else, I think it would be different," said Halladay, who's signed through 2010, has a full no-trade clause and is scheduled to make $15.75 million next season. "I just don't get that feeling. At this point I feel like I'm going to be here."

Though the fourth-place Blue Jays are 12 1/2 games out of first in the AL East, Halladay's teammates believe they can contend for a division title in the future.

"Nobody wants him to go. Everybody knows we have a better opportunity to win with him on this team and next year it'll be the same thing," catcher Rod Barajas said. "To take him off our team would be a big loss."

Halladay, who's 1-2 in his last six starts, allowed one earned run and four hits while striking out 10 in nine innings of a 4-2, 10-inning loss to Tampa Bay on Friday.

He's 5-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 11 starts versus the Mariners (52-48), who snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win Tuesday.

Ichiro Suzuki had three hits, including a bloop game-winning single with two outs in the ninth as Seattle improved to 1-4 on a six-game homestand during which its been outscored 45-14.

Suzuki, who leads the majors with a .366 average, is 8 for 34 (.235) with an RBI against Halladay.

Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-1, 3.48) makes his third start and second since his lengthy minor league rehab assignment from triceps tendinitis.

The left-hander allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings of a 9-0 loss to Cleveland on Friday in his first start since April 10.

"For his first outing back, I was pretty pleased," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said of Rowland-Smith, who allowed three runs in 3 2-3 innings and didn't factor in the decision of a 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays on July 1, 2008.

Scott Rolen had three hits Tuesday for Toronto, which has lost four of its last six. The veteran third baseman is 11 for 29 (.379) with eight RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.