Blue Jays GM holds no grudges

TORONTO -- When Rod Barajas became available, Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi put aside a past disagreement and got the free-agent catcher.

“In life, all of us need to go forward,” Ricciardi said Friday, one day after signing Barajas to a one-year, $1.2 million deal. “There’s nothing to be gained by going backwards.”

Ricciardi was far less cordial last offseason after Barajas walked away from a more lucrative Toronto offer.

In November 2006, Barajas’ representatives signed a letter of agreement for a $5.25 million, two-year contract with the Blue Jays, a deal negotiated by agents Gregg Clifton and Terry Bross. Barajas probably would have gotten a starting job under that contract, which was contingent on him taking a physical.