On the morning of the trade deadline, the Rangers chances of acquiring pitcher Roy Halladay appear dead. Perhaps they can be revived in some manner before the deadline passes but it doesn’t look good this morning.

The reality is it’s somewhere between dead and on life support system.

Certainly money was a factor and how much salary the Rangers could absorb. There was certainly the Rangers refusal to give up Derek Holland.

He was dazzling in a 7-1 victory over the Mariners. The Rangers never had any desire to trade him but that pretty much clinched it. There were multiple issues involved in the deal that could not be overcome but it seems Holland’s performance was the clincher.

The Blue Jays had interest in catching, Tommy Hunter, Justin Smoak and Julio Borbon. But Holland seems to be at the top of their list and the Rangers aren’t willing to part with him.

— T.R. Sullivan