Report: Towers agrees to terms
11/15/2005TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays have yet to make a splash in the free agent market this winter, but the team is doing what it can to protect its core of emerging young talent.
The Blue Jays reportedly have come to terms on a two-year, $5.2 million deal with right-hander Josh Towers. The 28-year-old California native notched career highs in wins (13) and innings pitched (208 2/3) in 2005, while his career-low 3.71 ERA was the best on Toronto's maturing staff.
"For the most part [the deal] is done," said Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "There's just a few things that have to be cleaned up."
News of the deal was reported in Tuesday's editions of the Toronto Globe and Mail. An official announcement from the team is expected later Tuesday or on Wednesday.
Towers broke into the Majors with the Baltimore Orioles before joining the Jays in 2003, going 8-1 as a spot starter and long reliever. He cracked the rotation in 2004 and went 9-9 in 21 outings before posting a 13-12 mark in 33 starts this past season.
The soft-throwing control pitcher walked just 29 of the 876 batters he faced, while striking out a career-best 112.
The deal represents a major raise for Towers, who earned just $358,000 last season. He'll reportedly cash in with a $2.3 million salary in 2006 and a $2.9 million payday in 2007.
Towers earned the deal by providing stability for the Blue Jays after staff ace Roy Halladay was lost for the season with a fractured leg. Thirteen of Towers' final 14 outings were quality starts, and he won seven of those starts.
"Anytime he goes out there, you know you can count on him," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of Towers in the midst of that stretch. "There's something to be said for guys that are winners."
News of Towers' deal comes as one of his former Baltimore teammate, free agent closer B.J. Ryan, visited Toronto on Monday. Ryan and his wife toured the city and went to dinner with Ricciardi.
Asked about the meeting on Monday afternoon, Ricciardi was both optimistic and cautious.
"So far, so good," he said. "But it's not how it goes, it's where they sign."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
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