Ryu to lead Blue Jays' rotation in 2020

Hyun-Jin Ryu is likely to the Toronto Blue Jays’ Opening Day starter in 2020. Photo: USA Today Sports

December 23, 2019

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays and Scott Boras-repped Hyun-Jin Ryu came to terms on a four-year, $80M contract late Sunday night, completing the second of two free agent deals made by the club within a 24-hour span.

Ryu, 32, has posted a cumulative earned run average of 2.98 over parts of six Major League campaigns since making the jump from the Korean Baseball Organization in 2013.

The 6-foot-3 product of Incheon, South Korea, has struck out 665 batters while walking just 164 across 740 1/3 innings over that stretch, earning one All-Star nod and finishing second in National League Cy Young voting after going 14-5 with league best ERA of 2.32 in 2019.

In addition to ERA, Ryu also led NL starters in BB/9 with a 1.183 mark last season, while finishing in the top three in WHIP (1.007), K/BB (6.792) and HR/9 (0.838).

Ryu projects to lead a rotation that, barring additional moves, will feature newcomers Chase Anderson, Tanner Roark and Shun Yamaguchi alongside Matt Shoemaker, Trent Thornton, Ryan Borucki and a handful of rookie hopefuls such as Anthony Kay, Jacob Waguespack, and Nate Pearson.

In terms of overall dollars spent, Sunday's agreement marks the third-highest deal awarded by the Blue Jays in franchise history behind Russell Martin's four-year, $82M contract in 2015, and Vernon Wells' seven-year, $126M extension in December of 2006, respectively.

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