Hyun-Jin Ryu’s free agent case will be an interesting one to monitor as he should garner intense interest around the league. After being a Cy Young finalist in 2019, he is also set for a big payday with super agent Scott Boras in tow.
According to TR Sullivan of MLB.com, the Texas Rangers have their sights set on the Korean left-hander.
However, in a conflicting report, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com states that rival evaluators believe Ryu will remain in a Dodger uniform in 2020.
Ryu has spent his entire career in Dodger blue and has most likely gotten used to it. It would be a drastic change for the Korean lefty to go anywhere else because simply put, this is all he knows as home.
The southpaw Cy Young candidate has been impressive since the start of 2018, posting a 2.21 ERA over 44 starts. He was plagued by injuries in 2018 — namely a major groin injury — but had his healthiest season since 2013 — his rookie year — in 2019.
Active pitchers with a career ERA under 3.00 (min. 700 IPs)
1. Clayton Kershaw – 2.44
2. Jacob DeGrom -2.62
*3. Hyun-Jin Ryu – 2.98*Ryu is an unrestricted free agent coming off a career season. Health is always the caveat w/ Ryu, but he has ace-like upside for the $ of a # 2.
— Matthew Taylor (@MatthewTaylorMN) November 5, 2019
Ryu would seem to be a welcome fit back to the Dodgers, but only at the right price. Whatever team signs him will most likely be betting on the idea that the pitcher he has been in his last 44 starts is the pitcher that will show up throughout the duration of the contract. Apparently, the Texas Rangers are the first known team to have keen interest in Ryu.
