I do not know how long the Jays can keep AJ Burnett and BJ Ryan. They are struggling for cash, and I feel that this splurge a last ditch effort to try and get some attention towards the Blue Jays. Ryan signed a 5 year deal for $47 million, and AJ Burnett signed a 5 year deal at $55 million.

Currently, Ryan is being paid $4 million this year, Burnett being paid $2.2 million. That leaves 4 years and $43 million left to pay Ryan, and 4 years at $52.8 million. Plus, they have arbitration to pay to Overbay, Wells, Rios, and Hinske, to name a few.

For a team that has questionable financing questions, that is quite a lot of money for two players, especially with those backloaded contracts. In much the same way the Marlins could afford Carlos Delgado's 4 year, $52 million contract ($4 million in the first season, $48 million over the last three) could the Jays afford Ryan and Burnett. Will they be able to keep these guys long term, as well as their other younger players, or will they end up like the Marlins last year, dumping these guys because their gambit failed?