The Blue Jays released B.J. Ryan today:

The club released the left-handed reliever this afternoon, just as they activated Scott Downs, who had taken over the closer role as Ryan struggled this season.

Ryan, who is signed through the end of 2010, will collect this season’s remaining salary plus the $10 million (U.S.) he’s scheduled to make next year.

The move comes after a string of bad outings that stretches back to spring training when Ryan, battling control problems, chose to stay with the Jays and work on his mechanics rather than accept an invitation to the World Baseball Classic.

Wow. He walked 17 and struck out 13 in 20 2/3 innings of work. That ratio is a very bad sign. Combine that with five home runs allowed, a rate of 48.4 per 200 innings, and you have a very bad pitcher, bad enough that the Blue Jays will pay him not to pitch for their team.