Today in Blue Jay History

by Tom Dakers on Nov 29, 2010 6:41 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays Analysis

Five years ago today the Blue Jays signed B.J. Ryan to a 5 year, $47 million contract. For the $47 million we got one very good season (2005: 38 saves, 1.37 ERA), one good season (2008: 32 saves, 2.95), one season cut short by injury (2007), one awful season (2009: 2 saves, 6.53) and one season sitting at home (2010).

I'd love to link to the Bluebird Banter story from the day of the trade but BBB didn't wouldn't open up shop for another week or so. But when it did, Richard Wade wrote:

Turning to Ryan's deal, I have a hard time getting past the decision to give a five year deal to a reliever. To avoid getting overly negative, we'll focus purely on what Ryan provides on the field rather than what he costs off of it.

So you could stay he wasn't thrilled.

At Batter's Box 'Pistol' wrote:

Given that Ryan has no real injury history and has had a relatively light workload over his career (381 innings) I don't think the risk involved with a 5 year contract is as worrisome as it might appear at first.

Whoops.

As it turned out, it was way too much money for a relief pitcher. JP really should have know better. It is easy to say with ~~hide-sight~~ hindsight, but long term contracts for relievers rarely work out.

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Sorry… but hide-sight?

Onions Baby Onions

by ohmybosh on Nov 29, 2010 7:58 PM EST reply actions

Ryan's 2008 was more "it's better to be lucky than good."

He was KG before KG.

I’ll admit that I was happy at the time. Shows what little I knew. I wasn’t really following the Jays that closely back then thanks to the fumble fingered Gord Ash era (Esteban Loaiza??!!!??!?!? ESTEBAN!!!!!!!!)

In honor of the Jays 2nd Baseman who played with fire in more ways than one.

by Damaso's Burnt Shirt on Nov 29, 2010 8:07 PM EST reply actions

Mike Sirotka?!?

by Minor Leaguer on Nov 30, 2010 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

One could make a case for it

But David Wells really did suck for the White Sox so it sort of worked out. Haha Kenny W.

The Loaiza trade (for alleged playoff contention!) hurt more because the player the Rangers got was some SS named Michael Young who probably would have been a better option at SS than Chris Woodward.

In honor of the Jays 2nd Baseman who played with fire in more ways than one.

by Damaso's Burnt Shirt on Nov 30, 2010 7:12 AM EST up reply actions