MLB

Yankees remain in hunt for Halladay

INDIANAPOLIS — If you think Curtis Granderson is going to be the only big move of this offseason for the Yankees, then you don’t know the Yankees.

Even while finalizing a deal in which they gave up three prospects to complete a trade in principle for Granderson, the Yankees were continuing to talk — and talk some more — to Blue Jays officials about a trade for Roy Halladay, The Post has learned.

Major league officials described Toronto as intensifying efforts to trade its ace at the Winter Meetings, though the expectation is that a deal will not get done at this gathering. However, those same officials say that all signs point now to the Blue Jays definitely trading Halladay this offseason. And the Yankee contingent is signaling they are in by making it clear to Toronto officials that they are willing to discuss major prospects even after letting the touted Austin Jackson go in the package for Granderson.

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All things being equal the Yankees do not believe Toronto wants to trade Halladay inside the AL East, and there is industry belief that a team, probably the Angels, has stepped up its bidding to land Halladay.

But the Yankees certainly are not hiding their interest. Two officials who have talked to the Blue Jays say Toronto “loves” Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero. Toronto executives have long said that what they would value in a trade for Halladay is elite prospects over quantity, and it is possible the Yankees could give them that high-end quality by including Montero and either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes in a deal.

Why would the Yankees do this? Well, they also adore Montero’s future as a hitter. But there are questions if the 20-year-old is going to be able to catch in the majors. If he can’t, the Yanks already are committed to a first baseman in Mark Teixeira long-term and do not want to use such a young player as a DH. In addition, they consider themselves well-stocked in catching prospects with Francisco Cervelli, Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez and John Murphy.

As for Chamberlain or Hughes, Brian Cashman met more than once yesterday with Andy Pettitte’s representative, Randy Hendricks. There is belief on both sides that a deal will eventually get done. If so and the Yanks make a trade with Toronto, they would have CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Halladay and Pettitte. That front four means they could easily protect a low-cost No. 5 starter and trade either Chamberlain or Hughes.

Also with that kind of rotation might, the Yanks could probably save some money on their lineup by not retaining Johnny Damon and going with Melky Cabrera in left field.

Halladay is due $15.75 million in his walk year and, if the Yanks obtained him, most of their officials are against giving him an extension immediately. They would rather see him pitch the year and be rewarded then or let go to free agency at which time the Yanks would recoup two draft picks to begin restocking all of the farm system used to make these kinds of trades.