Halo Hangout, which professionally reports the news of the Los Angeles Angels on the U.S. professional sports fan columnist site “Fanside,” wrote Ryu Hyun-jin’s name along with Jordan Montgomery and Marcus Stroman on the 11th (Korea Standard Time) “three starters that the Los Angeles Angels should recruit who missed the shota.”
“Both Montgomery and Stroman are pitchers who need multi-year contracts. The cost of recruiting is also considerable,” the media said. “If the Angels avoid multi-year contracts and focus on their 2024 season performance right away, Ryu will be perfect.”
Ryu recommended a single-year contract because of his good health. In the final year of his $80 million, four-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays last year, Ryu won three games and lost three games with a 3.46 ERA in 11 games. He returned to the team in August 2022 due to the aftermath of elbow ligament joint surgery, and after cruising through mid-September, he remained sluggish at the end of the season. He has played only 17 games in the past two years, failing to receive good reviews in the FA market.
“36-year-old left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin is a reliable pitcher, but he has the problem of not being able to throw enough pitches,” Halo Hangout said. “In Ryu’s 10-year career in the Major League, he has started more than 30 games in just two seasons. In the last two years, he has made only 17 starts, 11 of which were played for the Toronto Blue Jays last year. Of course, his ERA was solid at 3.46, but again, Ryu pitched in 11 games,” questioning Ryu’s durability.
What are the advantages of Ryu’s single-year contract? “The Angels will find a way for Ryu to stay healthy for one year and are likely to take low-risk, high-return compensation measures,” Halo Hangout said. “If Ryu fails to stay healthy or productivity declines, he can leave the team at the end of one year. On the contrary, if he is healthy, the Angels will get a solid starting pitcher to help him win. Or it could be a good trade deal.”
The media said, “If Ryu Hyun-jin is the best pitcher the Angels sign, fans will be disappointed, but it’s better than nothing. The Angels have to do something now, and Ryu is a pitcher who is guaranteed some skills.” 스포츠토토
Ryu is mulling over staying in the Major League and returning to the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO League. For now, the situation there seems to be a possibility of extending his active career in the Major League. Although the New York Mets, once a leading destination, announced their withdrawal from the FA market after recruiting Sean Manaea, the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox are constantly linked to Ryu, and the Angels were included in the list of candidates for the new destination. Of course, the Angels have not directly expressed their interest, but it is encouraging that they continue to be talked about in the U.S. media.
Another positive development for Ryu is that top-rated starting players such as Blake Snell, Montgomery and Stroman have yet to find a new home. Typically, after A-level players in the Major League sign contracts, the next group of players finds a new team. Ryu still has time.
