Phillies set to add Roy Halladay

The Phillies have a tentative agreement to acquire star pitcher Roy Halladay in a trade with the Blue Jays, and the former Cy Young Award winner was in Philadelphia for a physical required to finalize the deal.

Philadelphia also is discussing a trade that would send Cliff Lee, another former Cy Young winner, to the Seattle Mariners.

The commissioner’s office granted a 72-hour window Sunday for Toronto and Philadelphia to complete their trade, a baseball official familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press yesterday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Major League Baseball didn’t make any announcement.

Philadelphia could give up pitchers J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton and outfielder Dominic Brown as part of a deal, the person said. Those three players also took physicals.

Halladay is the most prized pitcher on the trade market. A six-time All-Star and the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner, the right-hander was 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA for the Blue Jays last season.

The 32-year-old Halladay can become a free agent after the 2010 season, so Philadelphia likely wants a long-term contract extension as part of a trade.

ESPN reported that Halladay was in line to receive a three-year extension worth about $60 million, with vesting options that could lengthen the deal.

Matsui to Halos

Designated hitter/outfielder Hideki Matsui and the Los Angeles Angels reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract worth about $6.5 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP.

Matsui’s agent, Arn Tellem, confirmed “serious negotiations” but declined further comment.

Matsui hit .274 with 28 homers and 90 RBI last season, then was selected World Series MVP despite starting only three of the six games against Philadelphia.

Slowed by surgically repaired knees, the 35-year-old Matsui would replace free agent Vladimir Guerrero as Los Angeles’ primary designated hitter. Guerrero, also hobbled by injuries, will turn 35 in February.

Brewers spend

Left-hander Randy Wolf finalized his three-year, $29.75 million contract with Milwaukee, which also re-signed Craig Counsell to a $2.1 million deal. The Brewers also have a preliminary one-year agreement with reliever Claudio Vargas, pending a physical. . . .

The Washington Nationals and Scott Olsen agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract, which includes performance bonuses that allow the left-hander to earn a total of $3,825,000 if he makes 33 starts next year. . . .

Houston agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract to keep outfielder Jason Michaels

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese was arrested during the weekend on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the fourth time in less than three years that a member of the team has faced drunken-driving allegations.

Looking at replay

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig plans to establish a study group that will examine on-field issues that could include replay, umpires and pace of game. Selig scheduled a telephone news conference for today for an announcement involving on-field matters.