Ryan Flies to Toronto, Loaiza Lands in Oakland

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The New York Sun

Just hours before Billy Wagner signed with the Mets yesterday, closer B.J. Ryan finalized a $47 million, five-year agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays and starter Esteban Loaiza agreed to a three-year contract with the Oakland Athletics worth $21,375,000.


Ryan’s contract is the largest for a reliever in baseball history and Wagner’s deal, worth $43 million over four years, has the highest average salary. Both broke marks held by Mariano Rivera.


Ryan, a left-hander who turns 30 on December 28, converted 36 of 41 save chances for Baltimore last season, going 1-4 with a 2.43 ERA. He struck out 100 and walked 26 in 70 innings and earned $2,825,000, including bonuses.


Loaiza, who went 12-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 34 starts for the Nats last season, struck out 173 batters and walked 55. A two-time All-Star, he bounced back from a 1-4 start to go 11-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 23 outings after June 1.


Also yesterday, the Mets purchased the contract of outfielder Tike Redman from the Pittsburgh Pirates.


The 28-year-old Redman hit .251 in 319 at-bats last season with 20 doubles, two homers and 26 RBI. He made his major league debut with Pittsburgh in 2000 and has a .277 career average, 15 homers and 101 RBI in 392 games.


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