The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their free-spending ways on Sunday, locking down South Korean southpaw Ryu Hyun-jin with a contract worth $36 million over six years, according to Jon Heyman. The Dodgers had won the rights to negotiate with Ryu a month ago by posting a bid of $25.7 million to his former team in the Korean Baseball Organization, the Hanwha Eagles.
Dodgers sign Ryu Hyun-jin
The Los Angeles Dodgers spent even more money on Sunday, inking South Koren lefty Ryu Hyun-jin for $36 million.
Stephen Dunn
The Dodgers and Ryu got the deal done just before the 2 p.m. ET deadline on Sunday. If they had not, Ryu would have returned to the Eagles and the Eagles would have returned the posting fee. As it is, the Dodgers have spent nearly $200 million on starting pitchers over the weekend, having signed free agent Zack Greinke to a $147 million deal on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Ryu is a seven-time All-Star in South Korea, leading the league in strikeouts five times. He has posted a 2.80 ERA for his career, with a record of 98-52.
Many scouts see Ryu as a mid-rotation starter at best in the Major Leagues. He will likely fall into the Dodgers' rotation behind staff ace Clayton Kershaw, Greinke and Josh Beckett. The Dodgers also have Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano, Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly under contract. There have been rumors that they are shopping both Harang and Capuano, so they could look to trade off some of their surplus.
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