Blue Jays have released RHP B.J. Ryan

[yankeebot]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/Hea...=MLB&hl=269116

According to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian, the Blue Jays released B.J. Ryan.
A move was required to clear room on the 25-man roster for Scott Downs, who will be activated from the disabled list, but this comes as a complete shock. Ryan is still owed close to $15 million on his current contract that runs through 2010. The Blue Jays must feel he truly has nothing left in the tank. In 20 2/3 innings this season, the former closer had a 6.53 ERA and a 13/17 K/BB ratio.

[THEBOSS84]

I wouldn't even take a free flier on him.

[Snatch Catch]

Who would? His velo is so substandard that there's almost no upside.

[b-ball-lunachick]

When I saw him pitch this week, his mechanics may have been the worst I've ever seen....he just looked terrible without even mentioning the velocity...

[Yankees13]

RHP? No wonder why he sucks now, he's throwing with the wrong hand.

[Kangamangus]

He just completely fell off the table, giving out big contracts for relievers is risky business.

[Yankee Tripper]

wow. This is surprising.

If he's been released does than mean he goes on waivers or is he directly a FA?

If he goes on waivers I'd be shoked if he got past the Nationals who would scoop him up for league minimum and immediately install as their closer I would think.

He's got to be a better option thean Tomko right?

[yankeebot]

RHP? No wonder why he sucks now, he's throwing with the wrong hand.

Copy/Paste. Blame Rotoworld.

[THEBOSS84]

Copy/Paste. Blame Rotoworld.

I expected more from you

I thought you were perfect.

[yankeebot]

I expected more from you

I thought you were perfect.

I really should have caught that. I may have to just ride off into the sunset never to be seen or heard from again.

[CallOfTheCrow]

I expected more from you

I thought you were perfect.

Me too.

This must be what it'd feel like if Mariano was caught with roids.

[NYYDragoon]

Oh wow. How the mighty have fallen.

[The Dynasty]

Damn. I was hoping it was going to be RHP Brandon League!

[NYYRules#1]

Damn. Wasn't expecting this one.

He looks all sorts of awful though. Though if some team thinks they can do a complete overhaul on him, might be worth it for them. That would be an uphill cimb though.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

Swallowing 15 mil. Yikes.

[hellonewman]

When I saw him pitch this week, his mechanics may have been the worst I've ever seen....he just looked terrible without even mentioning the velocity...

Agreed, when he pitched Sunday, I thought his delivery looked nothing like it did when he was effective, almost like someone doing an imitation of him.

[knickfan23]

Oh wow. How the mighty have fallen.

Remember way back when people were calling that the Yankees should pay him closers money to be our 8th inning man?

Instead, the team signed Farnsworth.

[hellonewman]

He's got to be a better option thean Tomko right?

Believe it or not, Tomko right now is considerably better than BJ Ryan.

[Yankee Tripper]

Believe it or not, Tomko right now is considerably better than BJ Ryan.

Yikes. If Tomko looks good by comparison he must really blow right now. I haven't seen him throw, just looked at his stats.

I'm sure someone takes a flier on him, just not sure who. I bet there are at least a dozen pitching coaches telling the FO "Don't worry I can fix his delivery..."

[teknetic]

Yikes. If Tomko looks good by comparison he must really blow right now. I haven't seen him throw, just looked at his stats.

I'm sure someone takes a flier on him, just not sure who. I bet there are at least a dozen pitching coaches telling the FO "Don't worry I can fix his delivery..."

He had a pretty nifty ERA last month, but according to Jays' fans he piled on runners and was usually lifted before completing an inning. I don't think he cracked 87 the other day.

This was a horrible signing since day 1, JP is a tool.

[Yankee Tripper]

He had a pretty nifty ERA last month, but according to Jays' fans he piled on runners and was usually lifted before completing an inning. I don't think he cracked 87 the other day.

This was a horrible signing since day 1, JP is a tool.

I know his velo is down, but it was last year too (though I think 1 to 2 ticks higher than this year) and he was fairly effective.

[fredgmuggs]

Believe it or not, Tomko right now is considerably better than BJ Ryan.

Back in the old days George would have picked Ryan up after his release in a heartbeat because he's a name pitcher.

[NYYRules#1]

I bet there are at least a dozen pitching coaches telling the FO "Don't worry I can fix his delivery..."

I'm sure there are, but I can tell you at least one who can't fix him.

[YankeePride1967]

Swallowing 15 mil. Yikes.

when a team like Toronto eats that much money, you know he's toast.

[In Mo I Trust]

Ouch, what a rough contract after year 1.

[sweet_lou_14]

Back in the old days George would have picked Ryan up after his release in a heartbeat because he's a name pitcher.

Is this one of those deals where a team can get him for league minimum?

If yes, would the team that gets him be allowed to assign him to their minor league club?

If yes to both, why the hell not see if you can make something out of him?

[WashingtonYankee]

Sad.

[RollingWave]

wow. This is surprising.

If he's been released does than mean he goes on waivers or is he directly a FA?

If he goes on waivers I'd be shoked if he got past the Nationals who would scoop him up for league minimum and immediately install as their closer I would think.

He's got to be a better option thean Tomko right?

13Ks 17 BB 5HR inn 20 innings. 7.54 FIP. average fastball velo is 87 mph (Tomko is 92.2)

So, no, he's not, he's not even a better option than having Kei Igawa pitching out of the pen.

This isn't exactly a huge shocker, a lot of mechanics analysis over the last few years have used him as a poster boy of how NOT to pitch.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

I would sign him to league minimum, if he agrees to go down to the minors and work on getting back to form.

[35Knucklecurve]

He just completely fell off the table, giving out big contracts for relievers is risky business.

I thought the O's were crazy to let him go - he seemed to be unhittable most of the time. There's no way that the birds saw this coming - O's or Jays.

[bobby jr]

I thought the O's were crazy to let him go - he seemed to be unhittable most of the time. There's no way that the birds saw this coming - O's or Jays.

Actually with the high injury rate for pitchers, Angelos is reluctant to sign pitchers to long term contracts, especially when they are pushing 30. Let's give credit where credit is due, the Orioles and Angelos made the right call in letting BJ go, rather than signing him to a big contract to keep him from leaving for Toronto.

[grizy]

Is this one of those deals where a team can get him for league minimum?

If yes, would the team that gets him be allowed to assign him to their minor league club?

If yes to both, why the hell not see if you can make something out of him?

Just pull up some games where he's pitching. His mechanics look awful and his release points within a game can vary by like a foot on pitch/fx data.

Guy's messed up beyond belief.

[Stupid Flanders]

Remember way back when people were calling that the Yankees should pay him closers money to be our 8th inning man?

Instead, the team signed Farnsworth.

That would have been fine on a 3 year deal.

[35Knucklecurve]

Actually with the high injury rate for pitchers, Angelos is reluctant to sign pitchers to long term contracts, especially when they are pushing 30. Let's give credit where credit is due, the Orioles and Angelos made the right call in letting BJ go, rather than signing him to a big contract to keep him from leaving for Toronto.

The only thing I'm willing to give Angelos credit for is being dumb enough to sign Scott Erickson to a long term contract, but letting Moose walk from the O's right to another AL East team. I owe Pete a thank you note for that one.

[BillBuckner]

It's crazy to think how bad I wanted this guy to sign with the Yankees a few years back. Boy, I was wrong.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

ESPN Chicago (there are regional espn's now?) reports that he's signed a minor league deal with the Cubs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4333922

[DontHateOnNumber2]

Sportscenter just announced during baseball highlights that B.J. Ryan was released from his minor league contract. What are the odds he gets a third chance this season? You can never have too much pitching.

[35Knucklecurve]

Sportscenter just announced during baseball highlights that B.J. Ryan was released from his minor league contract. What are the odds he gets a third chance this season? You can never have too much pitching.

He literally fell off the charts. I used to think he had a great career ahead of him. I can't imagine anybody wanting to give him another chance, but as you said, as long as he can heave it to the plate, somebody will probably let him try again.

[Stick Michael]

He's a lefty and he still has a pulse, so he'll get another chance if he's willing accept a low-risk minor league deal.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

He was released at his own request, so he may not be looking for another chance.

[35Knucklecurve]

He was released at his own request, so he may not be looking for another chance.

Whoa - I missed that part of it - must have been a tough thing to do. However, if that's the case then I guess it was better than hearing it from the manager.

[GordonGecko]

He was released at his own request, so he may not be looking for another chance.

Doesn't that mean he quit - I wonder if the Jays negotiated a settlement

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

Doesn't that mean he quit - I wonder if the Jays negotiated a settlement

What would this have to do with the Jays?

[GordonGecko]

What would this have to do with the Jays?

thought that was related to his original release, never mind

[hellonewman]

Sportscenter just announced during baseball highlights that B.J. Ryan was released from his minor league contract. What are the odds he gets a third chance this season? You can never have too much pitching.

If he's willing to pitch for the New Jersey Jackals or some such (Eric Gagne is in that league now). Otherwise I doubt it.

[Yankyfan]

Maybe he wants to take off the rest of the year and start fresh next season. He may have come back to soon. Most reports had him topping out at 86 mph.