Could B.J. Ryan be Worth a Look as a Left Handed Set up Man?
Could Toronto Blue Jays castoff B.J. Ryan who is a former all star find a spot in the Cubs bullpen?
The Toronto Blue Jays have released one time All Star closer B.J. Ryan this afternoon after he continued to struggle out of their bullpen. His numbers this year are not good but he was at one time one of the best left handed specialists in all of baseball and could be worth at least a flyer because the Blue Jays are on the hook for another 5 million in salary this season and 10 million more for next season.
With the Cubs hamstrung by a lack of financial flexibility perhaps GM Jim Hendry will take a look at Ryan who would cost him nothing and with Ryan Dempster on the DL it could free up Sean Marshall to move into the rotation if necessary.
4 Comments
Ramboner said:
Kap, I believe you should fix this line...
"His numbers this year are not good but he was at one time one of the best left handed specialists in all of baseball..."
I think you mean CLOSER, not a left handed specialist.
David Kaplan said:
Prior to becoming an All Star closer he was a great set up man. Thanks for reading the blog!
Curt from Naperville said:
He'd be worth taking a flier. The Cubs really need a lefty arm in the bullpen, and Marshall will likely need to start over the next month or so -- I'm sure the only reason Hart started today is because Marshall's needed in the pen.
Don't understand the Jays' decision to eat that much salary after 21 innings' worth of work -- Ryan missed most of 2007 with arm problems, but he was okay last year. He'd be best off in low-risk situations for now (rather than closing), and he probably needs to lose a little weight (he's listed at 6'5", 255 lbs. on CBS Sports' web site, this is 25 pounds heavier than Baseball Reference's info, which leads me to believe he's suffering from Terry Forster disease).
cubdreamer said:
That would definetly be worth a shot.Ryan was a good set-up man and dominant closer and if he regains any that form it would be a lot of upside.
I really wish they would move Theriot to second base and go get a shortstop.
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