Will the partnership between ‘Korean Monster’ Ryu Hyun-jin (36) and the Toronto Blue Jays end like this?
Ryu Hyun-jin’s four-year, $80 million contract with Toronto ends at the end of this season. Ryu Hyun-jin, who has recorded 3 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 3.46 this year and has signaled a comeback, is a veteran left-hander with a total of 78 wins in the major leagues.
There is already growing interest in what choice Ryu Hyun-jin will make as he enters the free agent market again. If Ryu Hyun-jin leaves Toronto, questions are raised about how Toronto will fill the void left by Ryu Hyun-jin, who played an active part as the fifth starter.
Canadian media outlet ‘Toronto Star’ introduced seven Toronto players who will hit the free agent market on the 10th (Korean time) and predicted replacement candidates for their transfers.
‘Toronto Star’ said, “There are seven Toronto players heading to the free agency market. Even if they do not renew their contracts, we have the resources to replace them,” adding, “Toronto players Ryu Hyun-jin, Matt Chapman, Brandon Belt, and Kevin are about to enter free agency.” The names of Kiermaier, Whit Merrifield, Chad Green, and Jordan Hicks were introduced.
‘Toronto Star’, who first mentioned Ryu Hyun-jin’s name, first selected Alec Manoa as the first choice as an internal option.
In fact, if only Manoa is revived, Toronto can easily fill the void right away even if Ryu Hyun-jin declares free agency and leaves. However, it is unclear whether Manoa will be able to revive next season. Manoa, who pitched 196⅔ innings in 31 games last year and recorded 16 wins, 7 losses, and an average ERA of 2.24, ranked third in the American League Cy Young Award voting, was named as the starting pitcher for Toronto’s opening game this year, raising expectations that he would fully establish himself as an ace. However, he only pitched 87⅓ innings in 19 games, recording 3 wins, 9 losses, and an average ERA of 5.87.
“If Manoa can get back to his original form in 2022, he could easily take Hyun-Jin Ryu’s spot, but that’s a big question mark,” the Toronto Star said. “Other internal options include Bowden Francis, Nate Pearson and top prospect Ricky “There is Tiedman,” he listed.
If Toronto cannot find an internal alternative to Ryu Hyun-jin, there is also a way to knock on the free agent market. There are four external options selected by the ‘Toronto Star’. It attracts attention because Clayton Kershaw, Ryu Hyun-jin’s teammate during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is also included. In addition to Kershaw, the ‘Toronto Star’ selected Sonny Gray, Aaron Nola, and Blake Snell as external options to replace Ryu Hyun-jin.
Kershaw, a legendary pitcher who won the National League MVP once and the Cy Young Award three times, is already past his prime, but showed off his skills by pitching 131⅔ innings in 24 games this year, going 13 wins, 5 losses, and an average ERA of 2.46. However, Kershaw was unable to end his bad relationship with the ‘Autumn Jinx’ as he appeared as a starting pitcher in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and collapsed with 6 runs while hitting a 3-run home run in ⅓ innings.
Gray, who served as a full-time starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins this year, pitched 184 innings in 32 games, showing excellent pitching with 8 wins, 8 losses, and an ERA of 2.79. Gray, who appeared as a starting pitcher in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against Toronto, became the winning pitcher with a great pitch in 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 walks, striking out 6, and allowing no runs, and was also the main character who inflicted the pain of ‘early elimination’ on Toronto.
Nola, one of the starting pitchers receiving attention in the upcoming free agent market, is also attracting attention as to whether he will leave the Philadelphia Phillies at the end of this season. Nola, a ‘one-club man’ who debuted on the Major League stage wearing a Philadelphia uniform in 2015 and played only in Philadelphia for nine seasons, pitched 193⅔ innings in 32 games this year, recording 12 wins, 9 losses, and an average ERA of 4.46.
‘Toronto Star’ brought up Snell’s name for the last time, but it seemed unrealistic. Toronto already has solid first through fourth starters, including Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassett, Jose Berrios, and Yusei Kikuchi. In particular, Gausman and Berrios are players who invested more than $100 million. It is unclear whether Toronto will give another starting pitcher a large contract. It is true that a huge amount of money is needed to recruit Snell, who is playing as the San Diego Padres’ ace this year and is considered one of the candidates for the National League Cy Young Award.
From Toronto’s perspective, it may be more important to protect Chapman, a Gold Glove-winning third baseman, than Ryu Hyun-jin. Chapman is considered the biggest third baseman in the free agent market this winter.
‘Toronto Star’ selected Justin Turner, Eduardo Escobar, and Josh Donaldson as external options upon Chapman’s transfer, but it is true that they are not enough to completely replace Chapman’s vacant position.
I’m already curious about what Toronto, which looks like it’s going to have a busy winter, will do in the free agent market this winter. Of course, we can’t help but pay attention because it will have an impact on Ryu Hyun-jin’s future.
BY: 토토사이트웹
