In Blue Jays’ circles, the suggestion of signing a big-money relief arm is met with a common refrain.
“Don’t you remember B.J. Ryan?”
In 2005, Ryan was a startling signing for the Blue Jays, who handed him the biggest contract for a relief pitcher in MLB history at the time: Five years, $47 million. This was the same offseason that the Blue Jays added A.J. Burnett, Troy Glaus, and Lyle Overbay in an attempt to end their long playoff drought.
The big lefty had just recently discovered himself after a slow start to his career in Baltimore, and the year prior, had saved 36 ball games with a 2.