B.J. Ryan asked for his release and the Cubs gave it to him, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cubs signed him to a minor league deal last month after the Blue Jays released him. Apparently, Ryan's velocity and sharpness did not return during his brief stint in the Cubs' system.
B.J. Ryan
Cubs Sign B.J. Ryan
The Cubs signed B.J. Ryan to a one-year deal, according to ESPN Chicago. He will work out in Arizona before reporting to Triple A Iowa, according to the Chicago Tribune, which first reported the team's interest last week.
The Blue Jays released Ryan after a disappointing three and a half year stint that began well, but ends with the Blue Jays paying $15MM between now and the end of next season as he plays in another uniform. The change of scenery could help Ryan, who wasn't bad against lefties this year. However, he allowed a near-1.200 OPS against righties and saw the velocity of his fastball drop for a fourth straight season, according to FanGraphs.
Odds And Ends: Sano, Gonzalez, Royals
Here's some more reading material for the afternoon…
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney runs through his first half surprises, including Ben Zobrist and the Tigers. He also says Roy Halladay and the Phillies are a perfect fit.
- As Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, Miguel Angel Sano's future is still up in the air. The Orioles and Pirates and the favorites to sign the Dominican shortstop, but the Twins, Rangers and a couple other teams could still be interested.
- Adrian Gonzalez told WEEI.com's Alex Speier that winning matters most of all to him. Gonzalez is one of the players Speier looks at as potential fits in Boston, along with Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez.
- Here, Speier says Tim Wakefield has been one of the best bargains in baseball since 2002.
- Cameron Smith of the Washington Post says B.J. Ryan could be a nice addition for the Cubs.
- Dave Sheinin of the Post reports that Bud Selig said the Nats are "on the right track."
- Bradford Doolittle of the Kansas City Star says Royals GM Dayton Moore needs a better grasp of the game's statistical side.
Cubs Interested In B.J. Ryan
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs have interest in the recently-released B.J. Ryan. The former Blue Jays closer will become a free agent when he clears waivers tomorrow, so any team will be able to pick him up for the major league minimum. The Blue Jays will pay the rest of Ryan's contract, some $15MM over the next year and a half.
The Cubs could send Ryan to the minors if they sign him, then bring him up as a lefty specialist if they believe he can be effective in the majors again.
Indians Interested In Gobble, Not Ryan
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says that the Indians are not interested in signing BJ Ryan even though they nearly signed him four years ago. Instead, Hoynes says the Indians are interested in Jimmy Gobble, who was just designated for assignment by the White Sox. If the Indians do acquire Gobble, Hoynes says the lefty would be assigned to AAA. Gobble allowed 14 hits and seven walks in 12 innings this season, striking out ten.
Alyson Footer of MLB.com also reports that Ed Wade said the Astros do not have any interest in signing Ryan, or Pedro Martinez for that matter.
Odds And Ends: Delcarmen, Jays, Perez
Links for Thursday morning…
- Boston native Manny Delcarmen tries not to let rumors about his future distract him, as Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald reports.
- As Newsday's Ken Davidoff notes, J.P. Ricciardi's commitments to A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan hurt the Jays more than they helped.
- Rob Neyer of ESPN.com says Oliver Perez's return was "just short of a disaster." The Mets lefty is under contract for two and a half more seasons.
- None of the players on this list are getting traded again, but it's worth checking out Tom Verducci's ten most thrilling players ever.
- If you're wondering what trade chips might interest the Blue Jays, check out the mid-season edition of Baseball America's Top 25 Prospects.
- I'll be talking trade rumors on 830 KLAA in Los Angeles at 6:05 CST. Also, check out my chat on the Mike Heller Show on ESPN 1070 from yesterday afternoon.
- Remember to follow MLBTR on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Odds And Ends: Atkins, Ryan, Halladay
More links for the afternoon…
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Red Sox phoned the Rockies about Garrett Atkins, who's hitting much better since the beginning of June.
- Bradford Doolittle of the Kansas City Star says the Royals can't give Mark Teahen away, but they should be open to trading him.
- Joel Sherman wonders if a contender will pick B.J. Ryan up as a lefty specialist.
- Jorge Arangure Jr. says Ryan could fit with the Marlins, who have been handing out second chances non-stop.
- MLB.com's Lyle Spencer looks at pieces the Angels could offer for Roy Halladay, about whom they have called the Blue Jays.
- But the Angels are not the only ones inquiring. As Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports, J.P. Ricciardi has received "several" calls about Halladay.
Blue Jays Release B.J. Ryan
The Blue Jays have released B.J. Ryan, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. The 33-year-old lefty signed a five year $47MM deal with the Jays before the 2006 season that was, at the time, the largest deal ever for a reliever. The contract expires after 2010, but the Jays still owe Ryan about $15MM.
Ryan dominated in 2006, striking out more than four times as many as he walked and allowing 30 fewer hits than innings pitched. However, he's been a major disappointment since missing 2007 with Tommy John surgery. He was effective last year, but has struggled in 2009, walking 7.4 batters per nine with a career-low strikeout rate and more hits allowed than innings pitched.
Jays Listening On Wells
Jon Heyman has heard that the Blue Jays "have fielded a few trade inquiries" about Vernon Wells, though they are not shopping him. Wells has six years and over $100MM remaining on his contract.
Because of the Jays’ financial constraints, they could consider trading Wells or closer B.J. Ryan for the right package. Trading the center fielder would likely take a lot of creativity on the part of Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi given the amount the club owes Wells.
Mets Bullpen Rumors: Monday
11:56pm: Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer on whether the rumored two-year, $25MM offer with a third-year option is true: "Absolutely not." It will require three guaranteed years at least to sign K-Rod.
8:43pm: K-Rod gave some quotes to the media, nothing interesting.
7:14pm: Stark says the Mets finished their meet with Fuentes; Hoffman is up next. Wood is not in Vegas. Stark adds that the Mets discussed concepts but did not make a formal offer to K-Rod.
6:45pm: Sherman now says the Mets’ offer was for $25MM over two years plus a third year option.
6:03pm: Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer told Sherman he’ll try to be creative with this contract. Sherman asked whether that could mean an opt-out clause, and Kinzer responded in the affirmative. Sherman says the Mets’ offer is in the range of three years, $33MM; no talk of the vesting option Heyman mentioned.
5:26pm: Jon Heyman says the Mets offered K-Rod a two-year deal worth about $12MM per with a third-year vesting option. Doesn’t sound like something he’ll jump at.
2:14pm: Joel Sherman rejects Graziano’s report. Sherman says the Mets have not talked to the Jays about B.J. Ryan.
1:39pm: Gerry Fraley learned from a team official that the Mets made a three-year offer to K-Rod, but they don’t expect him to take it immediately.
12:06pm: Joel Sherman has details on the Mets’ talks for Huston Street. Omar Minaya called the Rox a few weeks ago suggesting Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano for Street. The Rockies took the weekend to think about it, but when they called back Minaya had changed his mind.
In another article, Sherman says Omar Minaya’s approach toward free agent closers is Boras-like. He believes the Mets’ offer to K-Rod last night was three years with an option.
11:16am: Jon Heyman and Ken Davidoff/David Lennon agree that the Mets are meeting with Fuentes and Hoffman shortly. And Heyman believes the Mets’ offer to K-Rod last night was for three years.
10:33am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger says the Mets and Blue Jays had discussions about B.J. Ryan. However, the Jays want Fernando Martinez and the Mets don’t want to trade the young outfield prospect.
7:50am: According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Omar Minaya and other Mets officials dined at a steakhouse with Francisco Rodriguez for over four hours Sunday night. Lennon believes the early presence of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon implies that negotiations with K-Rod may have reached a critical stage.
SI.com’s Jon Heyman wrote earlier yesterday evening that the Mets were expected to make an offer to Rodriguez at the meeting. Maybe three years with a vesting option.
The Mets also plan to meet with Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman today, with Kerry Wood also on the radar. Ken Davidoff looks at the options and says, "It’s gotta be K-Rod." The Rangers like Wood as well, by the way.
