WASHINGTON -- The Cubs signed recently released relief pitcher B.J. Ryan to a minor-league deal Thursday, ending speculation that the club would land the former Blue Jays and Orioles closer.Chicago assistant general manager Randy Bush said that Ryan would report to Cubs' extended spring training in Mesa, Ariz. initially to work on his mechanics before moving up the chain to Triple-A Iowa and possibly Wrigley Field after that.
"We feel like there's a whole lot of upside for us," Bush said.
Ryan struggled mightily this season with the Blue Jays before his release, posting a 6.53 ERA that relegated him to the last spot in the club's bullpen. In the fourth year of a one-time record five year, $47 million deal when he was let go, Ryan had an uneven stint in Toronto, saving 75 games for the club, but also missing almost all of 2007 because of Tommy John surgery.
Bush said his willingness to earn his way back to the major leagues without any time constraints made the signing easy for the Cubs.
"He didn't want to put a very short time limit on [his rehab stint] like a lot of guys. ... He wanted to do it the right way," Bush said. "He said 'No, I want to go to Mesa, rebuild it and get my delivery right.'"
The Cubs have only one left-handed reliever on their active roster (Sean Marshall), so the chance to add another to the bullpen could give manager Lou Piniella another weapon in the late innings down the stretch, a prospect that excited the skipper.
"We don't have a lot of left-handed depth in the organization, at least up high. If he pitches anywhere near how he was with the Orioles and Toronto, he'll help us, but I think that's down the road just a little bit."
