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Toronto Blue Jays: Players that the club lost for nothing

ByDavid Corcoran|
Toronto Blue Jays' coach Buck Martinez (L) relieves pitcher Chris Carpenter during fifth inning of play against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto, Canada, 12 May, 2001. The Mariners beat the Jays 11-7. AFP PHOTO/Aaron HARRIS (Photo by AARON HARRIS / AFP) (Photo by AARON HARRIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Toronto Blue Jays' coach Buck Martinez (L) relieves pitcher Chris Carpenter during fifth inning of play against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto, Canada, 12 May, 2001. The Mariners beat the Jays 11-7. AFP PHOTO/Aaron HARRIS (Photo by AARON HARRIS / AFP) (Photo by AARON HARRIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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OAKLAND, CA – JULY 21: Jay Gibbons of the Baltimore Orioles prepares in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on July 21, 2007. The Athletics defeated the Orioles 4-3. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JULY 21: Jay Gibbons of the Baltimore Orioles prepares in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on July 21, 2007. The Athletics defeated the Orioles 4-3. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Jay Gibbons

In 1998, the Blue Jays drafted Jay Gibbons out of California State University and there is no downplaying it, he dominated the minor leagues.

After signing a deal with the Blue Jays out of the draft, Gibbons reported to Rookie Ball for the Medicine Hat Blue Jays and tore the cover off the ball.  In just 73 games, Gibbons posted a slash line of .397/.457/.700 with 49 extra-base hits and 98 RBI while recording more walks than strikeouts.  In the next season, he split time between Single-A and High-A where he hit 25-home runs and 108 RBI across both leagues.  Things weren’t slowing down in 2000 as he posted a slash line of .321/.404/.525 at Double-A.  Over his three seasons in the minors, Gibbons played in 336 games and had a batting average of .333 with 63 home runs and 281 RBI, while striking out just 186 times.  It appeared the team had a gem in Gibbons waiting to make his MLB debut.

Somehow going into the offseason to prepare for the 2001 season, GM Gord Ash couldn’t find a spot on the 40-man roster for Gibbons and he was exposed in the Rule 5 Draft.  The Baltimore Orioles snapped up Gibbons and not only kept him on the 25-man roster but he became a main part of the organization over the next seven seasons.

During his rookie season in 2001, Gibbons suited up for 73 games and collected 15 home runs with a .236 batting average.  All the Blue Jays had to do was put Gibbons on the 40-man roster to keep him, however, he could have likely earned a 25-man roster spot.  Instead, Ash gave a roster spot to Brian Simmons who suited up for 60 games and batted just .178.

Gibbons would go on to have three 20-home run seasons with the Orioles, which included his top season in 2003 when he posted a slash line of .277/.330/.456, with 23 home runs and 100 RBI.  A steroid suspension would derail his career and after seven seasons with the Orioles in 2007, he was released.  Gibbons would end up playing in 840 MLB games, hit 127 home runs and held a career slash line of .260/.315/.453.

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