DUNEDIN, Fla. -- After an offseason of changes, the Blue Jays turned their attention toward keeping one thing the same: having Roy Halladay at the top of their rotation.

In a press conference on Thursday at Knology Park, the Blue Jays announced that they had agreed to a three-year, $40 million contract extension with their prize pitcher through the 2010 season. Halladay, who had been signed through 2007, will make $10 million in 2008, $14.25 million in 2009 and $15.75 million in 2010.

 

"To me, he stands for the Toronto Blue Jays," Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said recently.

 

Halladay, 28, signed a four-year, $42 million contract in January 2004. The 2003 American League Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to make $12.7 million this year and $12.8 million in '07.

 

As part of his extension, Halladay will donate $100,000 to the Jays Care Foundation in each year of the new contract.

 

Last season, Halladay went 12-4 with a 2.41 ERA and led all AL pitchers with five complete games, even though he missed the entire second half with a broken left leg. He was scheduled to make his third All-Star appearance last season -- possibly as the AL's starting pitcher -- before a line drive fractured his tibia on July 8 at Texas.

 

In his 19 starts last year, Halladay struck out 108 batters and walked 18 across 141 2/3 innings.

 

Halladay, who has a 79-43 record in his career, is back at full strength this spring and is slated to be the Opening Day starter for Toronto for the fourth straight season.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...t=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

:notworthy

Good job by the Blue Jays keeping Halladay locked up. Hopefully him and Burnett can give them a deadly 1-2 for years to come.

Good job by the Blue Jays keeping Halladay locked up. Hopefully him and Burnett can give them a deadly 1-2 for years to come.

 

At least with Halladay a deadly 1. :lol

 

AJ still has to prove his dependability. So far he is only potential.

 

Anyhow, nice signing for the Blue Jays.

Yup, they did exactly what any smart team would do, that should keep them into things.