"Doc" Roy Halladay Could Be Opening a New Practice for the Dodgers

Perennial All-star and Dominating Pitcher Could Leave Toronto

It's never easy when a franchise player for a sports team announces he will test the market when his contract expires. It's even less easy when that player is one of the main reasons tickets are sold.

Thus is life in Toronto. The city has lost many sports stars over the years. Doug Gilmour and Mats Sundin. Damon Stoudamire and Vince Carter. Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter.

Is the Doc next?

Roy Halladay could possibly be the greatest pitcher to ever step on the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays and that's saying something. Past pitchers for the Jays include Pat Hentgen, Jimmy Key, Dave Stieb, David Wells, and even Roger Clemons.

For a baseball team in Canada that doesn't even get exposure through the entire country (due to coverage of the Seattle Mariners in British Columbia), as well as the long lengthy history of the Detroit Tigers being broad casted in Ontario long before the Blue Jays existed, it's a testament to Halladay that he is as highly touted in baseball as he is.

Halladay is second all-time in wins for a Blue Jays pitcher with 148, he won the CY Young award as baseballs top pitcher in 2003, is always among statistical leaders in strikeouts, ground ball outs, complete games pitched, innings pitched, and shut outs. He is a feared player to play against due to his power and location and is admired and respected throughout the sport.

Not to mention that he was also ranked #7 in the 2009 Sporting News list of the 50 best current baseball players.

So, what does a player with all those records, awards, statistics and financial freedom want at this stage of the career?

That elusive World Series Championship.

The Blue Jays have not qualified for the MLB playoffs since their last World Series win in 1993 and in recent years former General Manager J.P. Ricciardi has been vilified in the city for his handling of talent and the team in general. Ricciardi's reign saw little progress with the team and is being blamed for potentially letting the best pitcher they've ever had to walk away after the 2010 season.