MLB

Halladay talk is on Yankees’ to-do list

TAMPA, Fla. — When the Yankees’ brass exited George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday, three things had been established: Hal Steinbrenner gave Brian Cashman a budget, Andy Pettitte’s return was atop the to-do list, and the club is prepared to meet with the Blue Jays at the upcoming Winter Meetings about Roy Halladay.

“We set a budget and now we will go about executing a game plan,” said Cashman, who will begin talking money with agents. “We have our priorities and we will start working.”

Asked what amount of dollars the world champs have coming off the payroll, Cashman said, “I am going with the number Hal gave me.”

With the free-agent marketplace not housing CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, and the Yankees not having the weaknesses of last winter, the plan is for the 2010 Opening Day payroll to be short of the $201 million it was last April.

“Even if they do add Halladay, the 2010 payroll is expected to be short of the 2009 payroll,” said a person with knowledge of the Yankees’ thinking.

Ideally, the Blue Jays want a major league position player whom they can control financially for several years, but they do like Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and the Yankees’ top-shelf prospects.

However, there are voices within the organization who believe the price of talent and money is too much to give up for the veteran pitcher.

Early in the free agent negotiation process, the Yankees are going to focus on bringing back Pettitte. They will see what Johnny Damon wants and remain engaged with Hideki Matsui.

Of course, they will not ignore what develops with Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey.

Pettitte has to inform the Yankees he wants to return, something they expect to hear. The Yankees today don’t have a No. 3 starter and don’t appear enamored with Lackey.

Pettitte, 38 in June, has become a priority, ahead of Damon, who would create a void in left field and in the No. 2 spot should he leave.

Club president Randy Levine said the meetings were productive.

“Everybody had input and Cash was given a number to take to the Winter Meetings to execute a game plan with,” Levine said outside Steinbrenner Field. “We feel it’s a pretty definite budget, but any business has to respond to circumstances.”

“This year there aren’t as many glaring needs,” Cashman said, also citing a weaker crop of free agents, “but we aren’t a perfect beast either.”

george.king@nypost.com