“Ryu is expected to sign a one-year contract or minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.”
A shocking prediction. On Thursday (July 14), MASN in the U.S. predicted that Hyun-jin Ryu will sign a minor league contract and compete in spring training, rather than a major league deal. Given the style and history of Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, MASN predicted that the team will sign four or five veteran starters to short-term contracts in the 2023-2024 free agency market.
MASN has identified several candidates who could sign short-term deals with the Nats and be placed behind the plate. The first group of pitchers available for two-year deals are Michael Clevinger, Michael Lorenzen, Sean Manaea, and Tyler Mahle. The next group, however, is Ryu Hyun-jin, and it’s a shocker.
“Frankie Montas, Luis Severino, Kyle Gibson, Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn, Wade Miley, James Paxton, Ryu Hyun-jin, and reigning KBO Cy Young Award winner Eric Pedroia are expected to receive a one-year contract or minor league deal with an invitation to spring training,” MASN said.
While MASN may be making a subjective judgment, it’s a stretch to expect Ryu or Kershaw to sign minor league deals. Ryu will be 37 next year. However, he returned from Tommy John surgery and rehabilitation a year and two months ago to go 3-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 11 starts. Although his velocity dropped off a bit at the end of the season, he was still good enough to earn a 4-5 start on any team. 아톰카지노 주소
Given his durability and age, he’s unlikely to get a huge contract. But his stuff, command, and runner control are still competitive and proven in the majors. If the Nats actually approached Scott Boras about signing a pitcher like this to a minor league deal, I’m pretty sure they’d be politely rebuffed. Ryu is actually consistently mentioned as a possible fifth starter for many organizations. The consensus is that he’ll get at least one year and $10 million.
On the 13th, Ryu made his first public appearance in a long time, visiting Jamsil Stadium in Seoul with his wife, Bae Ji-hyun, and meeting with Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres), Lee Jung-hoo (free agent), and KBO commissioner Heo Koo-yeon. There were a lot of baseball elders in attendance that day, and Ryu went around greeting them individually.