What non-roster invitee has the best chance of cracking the bullpen? by Brendan Panikkar

This year will mark the first season the Toronto Blue Jays officially don’t have to dole any money out to Ricky Romero.

When the Toronto Blue Jays brain-trust inked pitcher Ricky Romero to a 5-year contract extension in 2010 nobody had any inclination what was in store for the promising pitcher. Romero signed a deal that would solidify his services from 2011-2015 with an option for 2016 that included a $600,000 buyout.

Nobody north of the border could have envisioned Romero’s career would derail like it did with the hurler last seeing the majors in 2013. The native of California made the All-Star team and was tenth in Cy Young voting in after an impressive 2011 campaign where he posted a 2.92 earned run average in 32 starts.

Romero was poised to be the Blue Jays ace for years to come when baseball reared it’s ugly head and the pitcher suffered through injuries and confidence issues much like his battery mate J.P. Arencibia, who walked away from baseball earlier this year.

The Jays officially released Romero on April 25th, 2015 after writing fat $7.5 million dollar cheques for a few years while Romero rehabbed knee injuries and no longer was in the Blue Jays long-term plans.

The Jays bought out his club option in 2016 for $600,000 as opposed to paying Romero $13 million for his services. This season will mark the first season the Blue Jays will not dish out any cash to the pitcher whatsoever.

The one-time Blue Jays fan favorite has spent the last two seasons with the San Francisco Giants minor league affiliate and will once again try and work his way back to the majors with the Giants in 2017. If “RR Cool Jay” ever makes it back you would have to think it would be in a bullpen role but even that seems like a stretch at this point for the 32-year old.

Just another reminder why baseball is the hardest of any sport, you can go from the top of the mountain to the bottom in one fell swoop and the game doesn’t stop to take notice.