Blue Bird Banter

24 Years Ago On January 14, 2001, the Blue Jays traded 37-year-old David Wells and Matt DeWitt to the White Sox for Mike Sirotka, Mike Williams, Kevin Beirne, and Brian Simmons. The only two that mattered were Wells and Sirotka. DeWitt and Williams were traded back for each other before the season started. The Jays released DeWitt after the season. He had a 3.79 ERA, with 22 … [Read more...] about Today in Blue Jays History: Trade David Wells for Mike Sirotka

Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images Roki Sasaki talked to the Jays' front office folks in Toronto last week. He was in town for several days, which might signify that he is considering the Jays. Or perhaps he likes the Loose Moose bar. I am sure he was checking out the restaurants in Toronto, and that can only be positive. They tell us he threw ‘on flat ground’ at Rogers … [Read more...] about Monday Bantering: Roki Sasaki?

Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Ryan Burr was purchased from the Phillies in May last season. He is a right-handed relief pitcher, 30 years old (31 at the end of May). As an aside, I found 11 Blue Jays players with the first name Ryan; I figured there would be many more. I found 19 Toms, Tommys, or Thomas; I didn’t count Tomas Perez. At one time, I wanted to put together … [Read more...] about Better Know Your Jays 40-Man: Ryan Burr

Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images Matt Boyd, Paul Kilgus, Dale Murray, Travis Snider and Pat Tabler all have birthdays today. There are five former Blue Jays who have birthdays today. First, Matthew Boyd turns 34 today. Boyd was a left-handed pitching prospect for the Jays. On our 2015 Top 40 Prospect list, we had him at #15. He was a lefty who didn’t throw … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday to Five Former Blue Jays

Stan Szeto-Imagn Images Jake Bloss came to us (along with Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner) in a deadline trade for Yusei Kikuchi. Bloss, by himself, would have been a nice pickup for a rental pitcher. Adding the other two made it a terrific trade. Kikuchi went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts down the stretch for the Astros but didn’t appear in their two-game playoff … [Read more...] about Better Know Your Jays 40-Man: Jake Bloss