Top 5 Blue Jay greats that never made the playoffs

Sep 11, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Fans of the Toronto Blue Jays cheer from the left-center field bleachers during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 11-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Shannon Stewart – OF
Blue Jays years 1995 – 2003

The Toronto Blue Jays first round 19th overall pick in the 1992 amateur draft would go on to become a staple at the top of the lineup for years.  After a few seasons spending time bouncing back and forth from the minors and majors Shannon figured things out and would become a feared hitter in a solid Blue Jays attack.  In the 1997 season he made his way into 44 games and hit an impressive .286 while knocking 13 doubles and 7 triples.  He also managed to drive in 22 RBI’s and stole 10 bases in those 44 games.  This infusion of speed and contact would lead to Stewart’s eventual rise to the top of the Jays lineup.  In his first full season with the club in 1998 he continued to display his tools all around the diamond.  He went on to bat .279 and stole 51 bases.  That would end up being his career high in steals as Stewart added some power to his game as his career went on.  In the years to follow Stewart would put up some nice consistent numbers for the Jays.  He averaged above a .300 batting with 10 homers, around 50 RBIs, scored 100 runs, and stole at least 14 bases each year between 1999 and 2002.

The 2003 season would be his most impressive season as he finished 4th in the MVP voting.  He was sadly traded to the Twins during the season where he would assist the Twinkies in there playoff hopes.  For the season Stewart batted .307 with 44 doubles, 13 home runs, 90 runs scored, and 73 RBI’s.  Stewart made his only playoff appearances with the Twins in 2003 and 2004.  In 2003 he continued his season success against the Yankees as he collected 6 hits in the 4 game series.  In 2004 Stewart had a rougher time in the playoffs in which he only collected 4 hits in 21 at bats.  The Twins would lose both years to the Yankees in the ALDS.

Shannon Stewart is still the #5 player on the Jays all time stolen base (166) and batting average (.298) lists.  He also ranks #6 on the franchise doubles list.

Jays Career WAR – 18.6

Next: 4 The Cannon

Alex Rios – OF
Blue Jays years 2004 – 2009

Rios was drafted by the Blue Jays first round 19th overall pick of the 1999 amateur draft.  After progressing through the minor league system he made his big league debut for the 2004 Blue Jays.  He would make his way into 111 games and post an impressive .286 batting average with 24 doubles and 15 stolen bases.  In the following seasons Rios would grow to become a consistent offensive player with phenomenal defensive skills.  Rios was able to gun out opposing base runners with ease from right field with his big arm.  Rios would wrap his rookie campaign by finishing 5th in the Rookie of the Year standings.

Rios followed up his rookie season with another solid year which he added some power to his bag of tricks.  His batting average may have fallen to .262 in his sophomore season but he popped 10 home runs and drove in 59 while scoring 71 times.  Rios would go on to become an All-Star in the 2006 and 2007 seasons as his offensive numbers continued to grow.  In each of those seasons he drove in over 80 runs and his 17 homers in 06′ and 24 in 07′.  Rios also stole an amazing 112 bases as a Blue Jay which slots him as the #9 player on the Jays all time steals list.  Rios is also the #8 player on the teams all time batting average list at .285

Rios was waved by the Blue Jays on August 10th, 2009 where the Chicago White Sox claimed him and his substantial salary.  Rios is still active and currently playing for the Kansas City Royals.  He has yet to play in the playoffs but will get his first shot this season seeing the Royals have already clinched a playoff spot.  The Royals are currently battling for home field advantage for the playoffs with the Blue Jays

Jays Career WAR – 20

Next: 3 The contract

Aug 18, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays hat and glove in the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Vernon Wells – OF
Blue Jays years 1999 – 2010

Vernon Wells was drafted by the Blue Jays first round 5th pick overall in 1997.  Wells would make his MLB debut in the 1999 season but became an every day player in 2002.  In his rise to the face of the franchise he would have his ups and downs but wow did he start on a high note.  For the 2002 season he batted a solid .275 with 23 homers and 100 RBIs.  For his on-chore in the 2003 season he even managed to step it up a notch.  In 2003 he was an All-star that would bat .317 with 33 home runs and 117 RBI which would lead him to a Silver Slugger award.  The performance would also land him in the 8 spot for the MVP voting that season.  Wells would regress some the next couple years.  There were reports that he had been playing with some injuries but Wells would be the first to tell you that is not an excuse.  He still hit around .270 and hit at least 20 homers each year.  In 2006 he captured it all again as he made his second All-Star appearance and have a stand out year.  Batting .303 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs and managed to even steal a career high 17 bases.

Over the remaining years as the face of the Angry Bird Blue Jays logo era Wells would continue to have mixed offensive seasons.  For what would become his final season with the Jays Wells put on a spectacular showing on last time.  In 2010 he batted .273 with 31 homers and 88 RBIs.  This appeared to be the opportune moment for the Jays front office to move Wells and they took advantage of it.  On January 21st, 2010 Vernon Wells and his huge contract were traded to the Angels for Mike Napoli (who eventually was traded to the Rangers for Juan Fransico) and Juan Rivera.

Vernon Wells is currently the #2 leader in many of the offensive categories for the Blue Jays Franchise.  He is #2 on the lists for Runs Scored (789), hits (1529), Doubles (339), and RBIs (813).  He is also #3 on the list of franchise home run leaders with 223.

Jays Career WAR – 28

Next: 2 Del Goooot It!

Image Credit: Scott Halleran/Canadian Press

Carlos Delgado – 1B
Blue Jays years 1993 – 2004

Delgado signed as an amatuer free agent out of the Puerto Rico in 1988 at the age of 16.  He would go onto become one of the best offensive players to ever wear a Blue Jays uniform.  Delgado was one of the most feared hitters in baseball while he was with the Blue Jays.  He started from humble beginnings and was a top prospect as a catcher in the Jays organization.  He bounced around from position to position in his first years with the Jays.  They knew their top prospect could hit but they tried him in the outfield and behind the plate before he finally stuck at first base.  Now that he finally had a home at first base in 1996 he budded into a star.  1996 was his first full season and he got in the swing of things quick.  He would go onto bat .270 with 25 homers and 92 RBIs.  The offensive machine was clicking.  His offensive numbers would continue to grow from year to year and then in 1999 he eclipsed the 40 home run mark for the first time.  He would finish the 99′ season with 44 home runs and a gaudy 134 RBIs with a Silver Slugger award.  He would put up similar ridiculous numbers in the 2000 season where he would go on to finish 4th in the MVP voting and won his second Silver Slugger award and was named to his first All-Star team.  In the year 2003 the ever impressive Delgado put up his should have been crowning season.  Finishing 2nd in the MVP race to only to *Alex Rodriguez‘s career year.*  Delgado’s All-Start 2003 season included a .302 batting average with 42 homers and 145 RBIs.  He also scored 117 runs and won yet another Silver Slugger award.

Delgado would spend his last season with the Jays in 2004 and he spent a decent part of it on the disabled list.  A down season in which he still played 128 games but still managed to bash 32 homers and drive in 99 runners.  What a “down” year.  Delgado would sign a big 4 year contract with the Marlins after the 2004 season as the Blue Jays started yet another rebuild.  He was eventually traded to the Mets after one solid season with the Marlins and would make his only postseason appearance.  Delgado did not disappoint in the 2006 postseason.  In the NLDS he collected 3 hits with a homer and 2 RBI’s in the Mets first round sweep of the Dodgers.  In the NLCS he continued to mash and contributed 3 home runs and 9 RBI’s.  The Mets would lose the 7 game seriese to the Cardinals but at no fault to Delgado it appears.

Delgado had 6 seasons in a row were he had at least 33 home runs with over 100 RBIs wit the Blue Jays and just missed one more by one RBI.  He was the mark of consistent offense as he made a career out of making the Sky Dome look small.  Delgado is the franchise leader in most offensive categories.  He is the top of the list currently in Runs (889), Doubles (343), home runs (336), RBIs (1058), walks (827), and SLG. (.556), and OPS (.949)

Jays Career WAR – 36

Next: 1 Just what the Doc ordered

Dec 9, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Former pitcher

Roy Halladay

waits before announcing his retirement the MLB Winter Meetings at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Halladay signed a one-day contract and retired with the Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit:

David Manning

-USA TODAY Sports

Roy Halladay – SP
Blue Jays years 1998 – 2009

The Blue Jays first pick 17th overall of the 1995 draft was arguably the best pitcher in Jays history.  Good old #32 Doc Halladay was one of the best pitchers during his time.  After showing off the dominance to come in his second career start which was an 8 2/3 inning no hitter against the Tigers on Sept. 27th of 1998 Halladay had a decent 1999 season in the Jays rotation.  He threw a solid 149.1 innings and was just under a 4 ERA at 3.92.  In 2000 however it appeared that hitters figured out Halladay as he was tuned up for a 10.64 ERA through 67.2 innings.  After a demotion all the way to Single-A ball the hard working Halladay retooled his delivery to become the force that we knew.  He changed his arm angle and took a couple miles per hour off his fastball to allow more movement.  By mid-season in 2001 the future ace was back with the big club and in the rotation.  He showed for the rest of the season he was going to be a force on the mound every fifth day.  He posted a 5-3 record with a 3.16 ERA in 105.1 innings for the remainder of the 2001 season.  Now with the Doctor in Halladay broke out in 2002 as an All-Star.  Halladay would go onto pitch 239.1 innings and win 19 games.

Doc came out in the 2003 season full force and showed why he is the best pitcher in baseball as he completely dominated the world of baseball.  With a 3.25 ERA and an amazing 6.38 Strike-out to walk ratio Doc took the AL Cy Young Award.  The 22 wins in 266 innings just showed how much of a work horse Halladay could be.  He threw 9 complete games with 2 shutouts in 2003.  In 2004 and 2005 Halladay was plagued by freak accidents that kept him from pitching as often as in previous seasons.  In the 2006 season the doctor was in and continued his success.  From 2006 to 2009 Halladay finished in the top 5 of the Cy Young award voting and was an All-Star 3 times.  He also won at least 16 games each season in that time frame and had a sub 3 ERA 2 of those seasons.

Roy Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on the December 16th, 2009 after a 17 win season.  The Blue Jays return was later traded and Kyle Drabek was the only player that ever dawned a Jays uniform from the initial trade.  Doc would go on to have career years with the Phillies and led their pitching staff to the playoffs in 2010 and 2011.  In 2010 Roy Halladay wrote himself into the history books as the second pitcher in baseball history to throw a no hitter in the playoffs.  Don Larson’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series being the only other playoff no hitter.  He would pitch 2 more times in the 2010 post season and had a 2-1 record and allowed only 6 runs in 22 innings while striking out 20 batters.  In 2011 Halladay was masterful in the NLDS but the Phillies came up short.  Halladay pitched 16 innings and allowed 4 runs while striking out 15.

Roy Halladay would come back to the Blue Jays as he signed a one day contract with the Jays to retire as a Blue Jay.  This is just one of the many classy acts that Halladay showed through out his career.  Doc is the among the Blue Jays franchise leaders in most pitching categories.  He is in the top 3 in nearly every category and amongst starting pitchers is only rivaled by Dave Stieb.   He is second in pitching wins (148) and strike outs (1495) on the Jays list.

Jays Career WAR – 48

Next: Top Prospect Wrap - Jorge Flores

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