Heading into this past offseason the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the possibility of needing to fill a significant void in their starting rotation. Instead, Hyun-Jin Ryu accepted the qualifying offer, which seemingly was a win-win for both parties.
MLB free agency again was slow-moving, even for the sport’s top players, so Ryu did not have to deal with potentially signing a contract well below market value and he provided the Dodgers with an experienced and effective starter.
A groin strain interrupted Ryu’s 2019 season, but he’s hardly missed a beat after spending a mere 11 days on the 10-day injured list.