Report: Blue Jays agree to four-year, $80M contract with Hyun-Jin Ryu

MLB insider Jeff Passan joined Sportsnet Central to discuss the reports that the Toronto Blue Jays have signed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu to a four-year $80 million contract and much more.

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $80-million contract with left-handed starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the contract carries a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs for either side.

Ryu, who turns 33 in March, joins the Blue Jays after six seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation. Last season, the South Korean finished second in National League Cy Young voting after posting a 14-5 record with a 2.32 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 29 starts.

The Blue Jays’ mission this off-season was to rebuild a rotation that finished the season without any veteran arms in it after the departures of Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez at the trade deadline. While the team was tied to seemingly every free-agent pitcher not named Gerrit Cole — and even in trade rumours regarding David Price — they had yet to add a lot-line starter. Until now.

Ryu is the fourth pitcher the Blue Jays have acquired this winter — joining Tanner Roark, Chase Anderson and Shun Yamaguchi — and should be on the mound for Opening Day if all goes well.

Ryu’s $80-million deal represents the largest financial commitment made by the current Blue Jays leadership group and is the third largest contract signed in franchise history.

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