Projections Show Blue Jays Are Still Well Behind in AL East Despite Ryu Signing

Following a season which saw the team finish fourth in the AL East with a 67-95 record, the Toronto Blue Jays made headlines with a move designed to push them closer towards contending, by signing former Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, FanGraphs has the team's projected WAR for the 2020 season landing them comfortably in fourth place yet again, despite the $80 million contract they handed to Ryu.

These are not the projections Toronto fans were hoping to see, as the Ryu signing has been the first notable move geared towards contending that the organization has made in some time.

The 32-year-old Ryu had spent his entire MLB career as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers following an impressive career in the KBO in South Korea. Last season was one of Ryu's best, as he sported a 2.32 ERA while holding an impressive 14-5 record as a starter. Ryu finished as the runner-up in the NL Cy Young award voting behind Mets starter Jacob deGrom, and this performance was convincing enough to warrant this massive deal from Toronto, with no opt-outs for either side.

With Ryu seemingly in the fold for the long-haul, the Blue Jays clearly see him as a pitcher who can anchor down the top of the rotation as the team looks to build a playoff contender. While the WAR projections are not what many would like to see, they do show that the team is trending in the right direction.

Travis Shaw and Tanner Roark were wise signings. Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are beyond ready. But the Blue Jays are still the Blue Jays, and it'll be awfully tough to topple the big boys.