Joel Sherman at the Post reports that there is a contingent in the Yankees front office that would like to see the team acquire Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay for just one season, rather than a long term deal. This idea hasn't received a lot of support, however. It's been reported that the Jays would allow suitors a negotiating window with the pitcher before completing a trade, so that they would have an opportunity to sign him to a new contract.

The thought is that, if they trade for him for one season, they can offer him arbitration the year after which he'll almost certainly decline if he pitched at least fairly well in 2010. He will then net the Yankees a first round pick and a sandwich round pick when he signs with another team. This would help to offset the value of the prospects or young players we'll have to trade in order to bring him over. If Halladay for some reason pitches awful, that could throw a wrench into these plans, though.

This would have to be a consideration if the team is seriously looking at John Lackey, as well. The Angels offered him arbitration, so we'll have to give up a draft pick if we sign him. So, the choice could be a swap of prospects for Roy Halladay for one season, one first round pick and one sandwich round pick or one first round pick for John Lackey for several years. It all comes down to the prospects, of course. Halladay is said to be after a CC Sabathia or Johan Santana type contract.

Via Ben Kabak.