Its Ryu Hyun-jin Signs a Bigger Contract with Another Team

Is there really any possibility that Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays)

who is about to enter the major league free agent market, will reunite with the Toronto Blue Jays?

Ryu Hyun-jin’s free agent transfer is becoming a fait accompli. 

This time again, there was a prediction that Ryu Hyun-jin would leave Toronto.

‘MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR)’, which covers major league news, had time to forecast Toronto’s offseason on the 15th (Korean time).

Of course, Ryu Hyun-jin’s name was also mentioned. There are seven players who will soon become free agents in Toronto, including Ryu Hyun-jin, Matt Chapman, Brandon Belt, Kevin Kiermaier, Jordan Hicks, Jay Jackson, and Matt Wissler.

Ryu Hyun-jin underwent Tommy John surgery last year and returned in August of this year.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who played as Toronto’s fifth starter, completed 52 innings and announced the beginning of his revival with 3 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 3.46.

Toronto is a team with a powerful starting pitcher. There are announced 1 to 4 starters.

This season, Kevin Gausman pitched 185 innings and played the role of an ace with 12 wins, 9 losses, and an ERA of 3.16. Chris Bassett pitched 200 innings, going 16 wins, 8 losses, and an ERA of 3.60. Jose Berrios pitched 189 ⅔ innings, going 11 wins, 12 losses. 지울프-토토

The average ERA was 3.65, and Yusei Kikuchi pitched 167⅔ innings, recording 11 wins, 6 losses, and an average ERA of 3.86.

The only player among Toronto’s starting pitchers who is entering the free agent market is Ryu Hyun-jin.

MLBTR’ said about Ryu Hyun-jin, “Ryu Hyun-jin may be a candidate for a contract renewal as he returns from Tommy John surgery and shows good pitching

but considering the amount of money Toronto has already invested in starting pitchers

he may be a candidate for a bigger contract with another team than Toronto.

You can expect it,” he predicted. 

Realistically, it is expected that Toronto will find it difficult to meet the amount requested by Ryu Hyun-jin.

Toronto has already signed Gausman for five years and $110 million (approximately KRW 149.1 billion)

Berrios for seven years and $131 million (approximately KRW 177.5 billion), Bassett for three years and $63 million (approximately KRW 85.4 billion), and Kikuchi.

It is true that since 36 million dollars (about 48.8 billion won) has been invested over 3 years, there is not enough room to invest a large amount of money in the 5th starting position. 

Toronto invested $80 million (about 108.4 billion won) over four years while bringing in Ryu Hyun-jin.

Even if Ryu Hyun-jin moves to another team through free agency, Toronto still has a potential 5th starter named Alec Manoa.

Manoa pitched excellently last year with 16 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 2.24, but this year he collapsed to 3 wins, 9 losses, and an ERA of 5.87.

MLBTR predicted that there was a possibility that Toronto would trade Manoa.

Manoa has not pitched at all since August 11th for unclear reasons, including injuries and rumors of discord with the club,” said MLBTR, “Of course, Manoa’s current trade value is low, but he was one of the Cy Young Award candidates last year. “Some clubs will be interested in reviving his career.”

If Toronto’s fifth starter next year is neither Ryu Hyun-jin nor Manoa, the team’s promising pitcher Ricky Tiedman or a new free agent pitcher is expected to fill the empty spot.

MLBTR’ also predicted, “Toronto may also be looking for a veteran inning-eater type pitcher.”