Dodgers commit $36 million in salary to Ryu
Fresh off an agreement with free-agent Zack Greinke yesterday, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have reached an agreement with Korean left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu.
The Dodgers posted a winning bid of $25.7 million for the rights to negotiate with Ryu last month, and frankly, even though there were reports to the contrary, there was never any doubt that the Dodgers would get this deal done.
Ryu can opt out of the contract after the fifth year providing an innings threshold is met.
The Dodgers have added more than $500 million in player salaries since they were purchased by Guggenheim Baseball in the spring, excluding today’s agreement with Ryu.
GM Ned Colletti has made it clear that adding pitching would be a priority for the team, and with the addition of Greinke , Ryu, and re-signing closer Brandon League, it would appear Coletti has been successful.
Clayton Kershaw, Greinke, Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett, Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang and Ted Lilly make up the Dodger rotation now and it’s difficult to determine at this point where 25-year-old Ryu fits in.
More trades may be on the horizon for the Dodgers with Capuano or Harang the most likely candidates to be dealt.
It is also possible that Ryu could begin his Dodger career in the bullpen with the plan to eventually work himself into the rotation.
Ryu has not pitched 200 innings sensed 2007. Ryu is 98-52 with a 2.80 ERA lifetime in Korea.
Ryu helped Korea win the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics and helped them to a second place finish in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
