GM sets deadline for Halladay trade

Toronto Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi said he still hasn’t received an appropriate trade offer for Roy Halladay, and set a July 28 deadline to complete a deal for the 2003 Cy Young Award winner.

“At this point, it’s probably unlikely that we’ll trade Doc,” Ricciardi said Tuesday.

Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is July 31. Ricciardi said July 6 he would field offers for Halladay, who is signed through 2010 and has a full no-trade clause. The GM said the deadline is necessary to get an agreement in place for what is likely to be a complicated deal.

The Dodgers and Angels reportedly are among the teams interested in Halladay, who is 11-3 with a 2.73 ERA and started for the American League in last week’s All-Star game.

Martinez throws

Pedro Martinez said he took a “really big step” forward Tuesday after throwing 64 pitches over four innings in a simulated game at the Philadelphia Phillies’ spring training base in Clearwater, Fla.

Martinez, 37, who last week signed a one-year, $1-million contract with the Phillies, faced hitters for the first time in 11 days. He will throw off a bullpen mound Thursday, and if that goes well, will have another simulated game or pitch in a minor league game Sunday.

Wakefield on DL

All-Star pitcher Tim Wakefield of Boston is headed to the disabled list because of a lower back injury sustained while throwing on the side Saturday. Clay Buchholz was recalled from triple-A Pawtucket to start tonight at Texas.

Etc.

Houston first baseman Lance Berkman will miss at least two games because of a strained left calf. . . . The New York Yankees called up right-hander Sergio Mitre and designated reliever Brett Tomko for assignment. . . . The Baltimore Orioles activated reliever Cla Meredith, acquired from San Diego on Sunday, and optioned right-hander Kam Mickolio to triple-A Norfolk. . . . Washington Nationals starting pitcher Scott Olsen will have surgery Thursday to repair the labrum in his left shoulder and will miss the rest of the season.