The Associated Press

Toronto's Roy Halladay (right) stands with Ted Rogers of Rogers Communications Inc., which owns the Blue Jays. (The Associated Press)

TORONTO - Roy Halladay could have waited two more seasons and gone elsewhere. Instead, the AL Cy Young Award winner decided to remain with the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I want to win here and be part of a team that builds something rather than going out and just trying to sign with a team that has the best chance to win," he said Thursday after agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract.

"It's hard to say what things are like in other organizations, but I can't see myself being any happier any place else."

Halladay, 22-7 with a 3.25 ERA last season, gets $6 million this year, $10.5 million in 2005, $12.7 million in 2006 and $12.8 million in 2007.

He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2005 season.

Halladay made $3,875,000 last season, when he set a team record for wins (15). He had asked for $9 million in salary arbitration, and the Blue Jays had offered $6.5 million.

If they had not reached an agreement, the case would have been decided by arbitrators next month.

JOB SEARCH: Less than four weeks before the start of spring training, Ivan Rodriguez and Greg Maddux are still looking for the right deals.

Rodriguez, the 10-time All-Star catcher who helped Florida win the World Series last year, received a $40 million, four-year offer from Detroit last week.

His agent, Scott Boras, plans to make a counteroffer to the Tigers today. Rodriguez isn't close to a deal.

Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner, has received a two-year offer from the Chicago Cubs but also isn't close to a decision, Boras said.

EL DUQUE: Orlando Hernandez worked out in front of scouts for about 20 major league teams, and the free-agent pitcher said he's nearing a full recovery from shoulder surgery.

El Duque, who missed all of last season, threw 35 pitches at the University of Miami.

MARLINS: Florida right-hander A.J. Burnett threw off a mound for the first time in nine months.

Burnett, who had ligament-replacement surgery April 28, said his rehabilitation is going so well that he hopes to rejoin Florida's rotation when the season starts.

• The Marlins will visit with President Bush at the White House today, more than three months after winning the franchise's second World Series.

SHORT HOPS: Utilityman Damian Rolls agreed to terms of an $800,000, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. ... Shingo Takatsu, Japan's career saves leader, finalized his $1 million, one-year contract with the White Sox. ... Left-hander Jim Parque agreed Thursday to a minor league contract with Arizona and was invited to spring training.