Don't Underestimate Blue Jays in Race to Sign Hyun-Jin Ryu
By Sam Dunn
The American League East is a relentlessly scary place, the kind of division in which you can win the World Series one year and not make the playoffs the very next. With that in mind, the upstart Toronto Blue Jays don't want to leave anything up to chance as they gear up for the 2020 campaign.
They've been previously mentioned among a slew of suitors for free agent ace Hyun-Jin Ryu. But, according to insider Jon Heyman, it isn't just hype. The Jays are for real about this.
Blue Jays seem very serious about Hyun-Jin Ryu. Apparently still looking to upgrade rotation after Roark signing. Others known in: dodgers, twins
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 14, 2019
Ryu has only played for the Dodgers since making his MLB debut in 2013, and is coming off his best campaign yet, making his first All-Star team and finishing second in NL Cy Young voting. Entering his age 33 season, however, he's likely only in for one more major payday before his prime years are over and done with. With the Dodgers reportedly eyeing Madison Bumgarner as they are, they're clearly not ruling out Ryu signing elsewhere.
And as it stands, Ryu is reportedly not the happiest with them.
Some (potentially) good news for the #BlueJays. Hyun-Jin Ryu, in an interview with major Korean media outlets, seemed frustrated about the #Dodgers efforts to resign him:
— Jason Lee (@Jasons_JaysHub) December 13, 2019
“If the Dodgers wanted to re-sign me, they would have told my agent.” pic.twitter.com/WjnJk8coZ6
On the opposite side of the content, however, Toronto is a sneaky team full of young talent just beginning to realize itself.
Who wouldn't want to spend the back stretch of their career watching Vlad Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette come into their own? The appeal of an international city like Toronto is a plus, too. Keep an eye on the Six as winter approaches.