Happy Anniversary Toronto Blue Jays fans: Hyun-Jin Ryu

The Toronto Blue Jays officially signed Ryu on December 27th, 2019.

A year ago today (December 27th, 2019), the Toronto Blue Jays bolstered their team and rotation when they signed Hyun-Jin Ryu to a four year, $80 million contract. This signing helped accelerate the rebuild coming off a 95 loss season.

Entering free agency, Ryu wasn’t even the most coveted pitcher on the market. The cream of the crop for pitchers was Gerrit Cole who was expected to sign the largest deal ever given out to a starting pitcher, which he do so by signing a nine year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays apparently offered Cole a deal worth $300 million over 10 years, but he may not have given much thought to their offer, as he was deciding between New York (Yankees) or Los Angeles (Angels).

After a strong postseason which saw him get a ring and World Series MVP, Stephen Strasburg opted out of his contract and re-signed with the Washington Nationals for seven years and $245 million. The Blue Jays were never linked to the former top prospect.

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Arguments can be made that Madison Bumgarner was more wanted by teams than Ryu due to the workhorse’s proven postseason success. Like Strasburg, the Blue Jays were never linked to him as he was destined to stay in a warm city, which he did by signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

All of Cole, Strasburg and Bumgarner signed before Ryu, which left teams in need of a top tier starting pitcher vying for his services. He was linked to many teams, with the Minnesota Twins being seen as the likeliest destination for the lefty and the Blue Jays seen as a longshot. Yet, the Blue Jays got his signature from pen to paper and made him a member of the team.

Ryu was coming off finishing third place in National League Cy Young voting where he went 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA in 29 starts. When the deal was announced, I first though that it was an overpay for someone with a lengthy injury history like Ryu has, and that the Blue Jays were going to regret this contract in a year or so.

So far, Ryu has lived up to getting $20 million a year as in his first (abbreviated) season with the Blue Jays, he was 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA while not missing a start and finishing 3rd in AL Cy Young voting.

Hopefully Ryu continues his dominance he had this season and that he continues to prove me wrong. Happy anniversary Blue Jays fans!