Chris Carpenter was drafted 15th overall in 1993 by your Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched for us from 1997 to 2002. He compiled a record of 49-50 with an ERA of 4.83. He was the 2002 opening day starter for us in Boston. In September, after a tough season in which he only made 13 starts, he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. A potential career ending injury for a pitcher, some pegged his chances as low as 25 percent to come back. His rehabilitation was scheduled to take the entire 2003 season which would have been his final arbitration year before entering free agency.
In his first year on the job, J.P. was in full blown cost cutting mode. The total team salary for 2002 was $76,864,333 and by the start of 2003 he had got it all the way down to: $ 51,269,000. Carpenter, due to his injury status and $3.45 million salary for the 2002 season, had a big target on his back. He was exactly the type of player J.P. was hired to make disappear.
What happened next depends on who you ask. The details are a little sketchy in terms of facts…..
The Man with the Golden Arm
