NEWSLETTER
It’s official, friends. The hopes of a generation lie in the largely unsuccessful and injured left hand and arm of BJ Ryan.
Yes, I’m being melodramatic. And attractive.
Ryan was 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA in 25 games with the Toronto Blue Jays before he was released on July 8. The Jays owe the left-hander $15 million, and the Cubs will be obligated to pay him a prorated share of the Major League minimum if he makes the team.
Ryan will report to the Cubs’ Minor League facility in Mesa, Ariz., on Sunday and work with pitching coordinator Mark Riggins. When he’s ready, he will join Triple-A Iowa, but there’s no timetable.
“He’s not ready [now],” assistant general manager Randy Bush said. “What’s great is that he wants to do it the right way. He wants to go to Mesa, get work on his delivery. He wants to get himself back to feeling good about where he’s at and how he’s delivering the ball. When he’s ready to go and feels sharp, that’s when he wants to go to Iowa.”cubs.com.
A minor league deal means two things:
1.) Big whoop – no real downside; and
2.) Nobody else wanted him very badly.
