Rumor became reality Sunday (Dec. 12) for Brendan Ryan as the Cardinals fulfilled a month-old pledge by dealing the shortstop to the Seattle Mariners for hard-throwing but raw pitching prospect Maikel Cleto.
Less than two weeks after acquiring Los Angeles Dodgers middle infielder Ryan Theriot, general manager John Mozeliak moved Ryan in return for a 21-year-old righthander believed at least three years away from a projected arrival as a major-league reliever. The move also ended Ryan's dogged belief that reports of an imminent trade would prove unfounded.
"I didn't know if it was some of the truth or all of the truth," Ryan said Sunday. "Obviously it was the truth. I understand they wanted a little more consistency."
The Cardinals advertised a desire for more offense as motivation for dealing a star-quality defender who struggled to a .223 average last season.
However, a mix of frustrating incidents prefaced the move, beginning with January's surprise wrist surgery that hindered Ryan's readiness to open the season. Ryan never recovered, feeding growing organizational impatience over his tardiness and talkative personality that became an issue to some veteran players.
Ryan finished the 2009 season as starting shortstop for a playoff team. He finished 2010 as the player most likely to be traded.
"I believe I've never been blamed for not being me. I think you can spin it any way you want," Ryan said. "If you've got some personalities, that can be a good or a bad thing. I think I was the same guy in '09 that I was in '10. But when you're struggling, it's easier to point to certain things to explain what's going on.
"It's cute and fun when things are going well. But when you're struggling, it's easier to say, 'He wasn't focused or prepared.' I don't think that's the case. It's more about lost confidence and feeling lost."
Mozeliak remained circumspect about off-field elements that contributed to the deal except to say, "Changing the culture of the clubhouse was important to us. Given the personalities involved, we felt this an appropriate way to make a change."
An offense that never consistently found high gear last season proved inescapable as well. Ryan's on-base-plus-slugging percentage plummeted from .740 in 2009 to .573 last season.
"When you look at 2010 and the fact that we never really got going offensively, we had to look to change some things," Mozeliak said. "We didn't have a lot of opportunity to change certain positions. I recognize that Brendan's an outstanding defensive player, but we had to try. If we rolled it out like last year, I don't know if we could count on taking the next step."
Ryan half-hoped the Dec. 4 signing of free agent Lance Berkman might allow the Cardinals to retain him since Berkman represented an infusion of needed offense.
"I do know they wanted more offensive production. I don't think that's profound. I didn't know with the addition of Berkman whether my position was more secure or what that would mean," he said.
"I was sitting back hearing all this stuff and getting my stomach knotted up. Most of the stuff seemed like it was not that great. I don't know if it's that justification from one side or not."
Some defensive metrics rated Ryan as the National League's top shortstop last season; however, manager Tony La Russa twice benched him after he became convinced that offensive problems had bled into Ryan's defense.
Ryan came to prominence in 2009 when he took over for Khalil Greene following Greene's struggle with social anxiety disorder. Ryan contributed a .292 average during the Cardinals' 91-win run to the '09 NL Central title, then threw himself into an offseason reshaping of his swing with new hitting coach Mark McGwire. Ryan stuck with the program until chronic wrist pain forced him to seek a second opinion and eventually surgery.
"That hurt," Ryan recalled. "This is something I was learning and getting better and better at. To take that time out, then step back in and recoup, get healthy ... it was almost like having to relearn everything I did last offseason. I know it sounds like an excuse. But, being honest about what went on, it didn't help."
Mozeliak phoned Ryan on Sunday morning with news of the trade. Later on, La Russa made a follow-up call, even inviting Ryan to visit him at his East Bay home this winter.
"I have nothing but thanks and gratitude for what he's done for me," Ryan said of La Russa. "It's both exciting and sad. Change can be scary, but at least I'm going somewhere I'm wanted. They were clear Theriot is their guy. That stuff is out of my control."
The Cardinals acquired an unvarnished power arm they believe projects as a closer or a set-up man. As a starter, Cleto compiled a 4-9 record and 6.16 ERA at Class A High Desert last season before going 2-1 with a 7.91 ERA in six starts during the developmental Arizona Fall League.
