Blue Jays 2006 Rewind: Starting With All the Initials

"So, we've got J.P. and now, maybe B.J., and maybe we get A.J. too. Let's get all those guys with the initials." - John Gibbons

The Boston Red Sox were not going to persuade J.P. Ricciardi away from his plans for the Toronto Blue Jays.

After his friend Theo Epstein shocked the baseball world by quitting his post as general manager of the Red Sox on Halloween, Ricciardi made it clear he was committed to the same position he held in Toronto. The Massachusetts-native said his relationship with Blue Jays’ president Paul Godfrey was “hard to put a price tag on” and that ownership was willing to increase spending to make Toronto more competitive in 2006.

“I have no interest in that job, none whatsoever,” Ricciardi said, a day before he met the first of his three high-profile free agent targets for the offseason.

Ricciardi felt Toronto could contend with its current payroll of around $50 million, but the team finished 80-82 in 2005, and starting pitching was one of the areas the team sought to improve in with an expanded payroll. Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.41 ERA) had been spectacular before his season ended with a broken leg, and in his absence, Josh Towers (13-12, 3.71) and rookie Gustavo Chacin (13-9, 3.72) were leaned on, with each logging over 200 innings. Dave Bush (5-11, 4.49) and Ted Lilly (10-11, 5.56) were also due to return, but Ricciardi dreamed of adding A.J. Burnett to Toronto’s staff.

A cocksure right-hander with a high-90s fastball, Burnett supplemented his reputation in the final days of the 2005 season.

“We manage scared, we coach scared, and we play scared,” Burnett said of the Florida Marlins, a day before 75-year-old manager Jack McKeon sent Burnett home with a few games left on the schedule. Despite the kerfuffle, Burnett headed to free agency as one of the top players on the market. He was considered by insiders a long shot to land with Toronto, with his childhood-favourite team, the St. Louis Cardinals, expected to be the front-runners for his services.

If they could not swing Burnett, Ricciardi had interest in free agent lefty Jarrod Washburn, who did NOT reciprocate. The Wisconsin native not only preferred to play in the Midwest, but grew “visibly upset” when reports of Toronto’s interest first circled in September. Washburn wound up signing in Seattle and posted a 31-49 record across four seasons. (photo credit: Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Blue Jays sent their best recruiting effort at Burnett, who arrived in Toronto and was greeted at the stadium by Halladay. Afterwards, at a local steakhouse, Doc told Burnett about the closeness between players and coaches alike inside the Blue Jays clubhouse. Toronto pitching coach Brad Arnsberg was in Florida with Burnett from 2002-2003, and the free agent pitcher told Halladay he wished to meet Ricciardi and Gibbons as well. Later, at a Raptors game, Burnett said Toronto looked “night and day” from his time in Florida. The Blue Jays had inserted themselves at the front of Burnett’s market, which was shaping up to be a four-to-five year pact worth around $10 million annually.

As the Winter Meetings neared, Ricciardi discussed contracts with his other two targets: Brian Giles and B.J. Ryan. The 34-year-old Giles had seen his power numbers drop since being traded from Pittsburgh to San Diego but finished ninth in NL MVP voting in 2005 with a .301/.423/.483 slash. The hard-throwing southpaw Ryan was coming off his first All-Star appearance, saving 36 games for Baltimore in his first season as a closer. Toronto’s willingness to spend appeared to be the only thing keeping them linked to the three free agents. Ryan’s free agent visit resonated so much for Geoff Baker that he led his story in the Toronto Star by saying the meeting “will likely be as close as (Ryan) gets to playing baseball in this city.”

So, when the New York Daily News reported that Ryan and the Blue Jays agreed to terms on November 25, it was the first bombshell of the offseason. Replacing the beleaguered Miguel Batista as Toronto’s closer would net Ryan a five-year, $47 million contract, according to the report, figures that exceeded any contract ever given to a reliever – figures that were denied by the general manager.

“As far as I know, we haven’t signed anyone yet,” said Ricciardi, with yet being the key word. 

Born Robert Victor Ryan on December 28, 1975 in Bossier City, Louisiana, Ryan explained he went by B.J. or Bo Junior after his father: “That’s just straight redneck-ology right there.” (Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images, via SB Nation)

The deal was finalized two days later. It was a stunner, “almost laughable” to Ken Rosenthal, but the deal sent a message to Burnett, Giles, and the rest of the baseball world that the Blue Jays were serious. Burnett’s market had narrowed to a handful of teams, with Toronto growing in appeal to the right-hander and others.

“When you look at what the Blue Jays are trying to do here, you’ve got to be impressed,” said Giles’ agent Joe Bicks. “I can tell you Toronto’s getting serious consideration.”

Giles was reported to have received a five-year contract worth $55 million from Toronto, a report that wasn’t true. Ricciardi acknowledged his club had made Giles an offer but would not go that high in term for the aging outfielder. As Giles neared his decision, Ricciardi had a “gut feeling” the California native would return home. The outfielder was leaning towards a deal with the Dodgers before the Padres upped their offer by nearly $5 million, re-signing Giles on a three-year, $30 million contract.

Burnett remained unsigned as the baseball world headed to Dallas for the Winter Meetings. His agent Darek Braunecker said they had received final offers from all interested teams, including the betting-favourite Cardinals, who came in with a four-year deal worth $10 million annually. The coveted fifth season in the St. Louis offer was only an option year. With insiders feeling the decision was down to the Cardinals and Blue Jays, Toronto ponying up a guaranteed fifth year would be a difference maker.

“We’ve got things that we’re working on right now, but we’re still waiting to see what happens with A.J.,” said assistant GM Tony LaCava as he, Ricciardi, and the rest of the front office checked into the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in the afternoon.

If Toronto struck out on Burnett, they were rumoured to be interested in discussing a trade with Oakland for Barry Zito, who had one year left on his contract. He signed with San Francisco the next offseason. (photo credit: The Associated Press, via The Globe and Mail)

A few hours later, Braunecker arrived at the hotel, signalling the meetings were about to get underway. The suspense would not last long; Toronto’s offer of five guaranteed years for $55 million sat atop Burnett’s list. Burnett desired to pitch in a Cardinals uniform, and Braunecker went back to St. Louis that evening. Walt Jocketty and the rest of the Cardinals' brain trust met and would make their final, final offer: four years, $44 or $48 million. Either way, Burnett was heading north.

No one was willing to make the financial commitment that the Blue Jays were, something the free agent took advantage of. Toronto’s first offer to Burnett was for five years and $50 million, which was met with a $60 million ask over the same length. While the two sides split the difference on money, the Blue Jays gave Burnett a no-trade clause as well as an opt-out after year three. Some felt the Blue Jays overpaid for not one, but two pitchers, in a span of eight days, but for the first time in a decade, Ricciardi had landed the free agent big fish for Toronto.

And the Winter Meetings had only just begun.