Toronto Blue Jays to stay or go?
Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Mets-New York Yankees rumors, etc.
The length of the contract and the amount of money will have a big impact on the next destination of the “Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin, who is eligible for free agency.
Ryu wrapped up the 2023 season on May 5 (KST). The Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Minnesota Twins in the American League Wild Card Series (ALWS). On August 2, he started against the Baltimore Orioles, marking his return to the big leagues after a year and two months of rehabilitation. In 11 games after his return, he proved his class with a 3-3 record and a 3.46 ERA in 52 innings, but he was unfortunately left off the ALWS roster and didn’t make it to fall ball. The season ended with a loss for Toronto, ending his four-year run with the organization and making him eligible for free agency.
Upon his return, he showed that he was healthy, pitching well with excellent command. With articles appearing almost daily in Korea and abroad, ‘free agent Ryu Hyun-jin’ is a ‘hot potato’ in the transfer market. It was speculated that he might return to South Korea after this season, but he has stated that he hopes to remain in the Major Leagues. So, what are the most likely teams for Ryu’s next major league destination?
First, he could re-sign with Toronto. This is because Ryu has proven himself to be a dominant pitcher, and the Jays don’t have many options to replace him. Alec Manoa, who was tasked with being Toronto’s fifth starter this season, has struggled mightily, going 3-9 with a 5.87 ERA. He was removed from the starting rotation after Ryu’s return from injury and spent the final two months of the season in Triple-A. Ryu’s outside options in free agency include Blake Snell (San Diego Padres) and Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers). However, it is unlikely that they will make the move to Toronto. Not only would it be difficult to compete with other teams, but it would also be a liability for Toronto, which currently has a number of starting pitchers under large, long-term contracts.
Toronto general manager Ross Atkins recently told local media, “Most of our pitching staff will be back except for Ryu Hyun-jin. We have Alec Manoa, but Hyun-jin Ryu could be an option.” The team has left the door open for Ryu to re-sign. While the local expectation is that Ryu won’t stay in Toronto, it’s hard to rule out a re-signing.
There has also been talk of Ryu returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Ryu is headed to the Dodgers, he could fill the void left by Kershaw. Kershaw, who has struggled in recent postseasons, is eligible for free agency after this season, so a return to the Dodgers isn’t out of the question.
Julio Urias is also a ghost player for the Dodgers after a second domestic violence charge as he approaches free agency. With Tony Gonsoli and Dustin May having Tommy John surgeries, the Dodgers are struggling to fill out their starting rotation. The addition of Ryu could be a huge boost. Ryu, who spent seven years with the Dodgers from 2012 to 2019, is an immediate starter who doesn’t need time to adjust to the team. 메이저사이트
The New York Mets and New York Yankees, who are also short on starting pitching, are also rumored to be his next destination. In the end, it all comes down to the length of the contract and the amount of money. Ryu is 36 years old and has only played six full seasons due to his injury history. He is likely to sign a one-year short-term contract or a 1+1 deal. He made a successful rehabilitation after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, but he averages five innings per start and is considered a fourth or fifth starter for most teams.
Spotrac, a site specializing in statistics, puts Ryu’s market value at around $8.1 million (KRW10.8459 billion). In order to stay in the major leagues, Ryu will have to forget about his last big free agent contract. All eyes are now on Ryu’s next destination.