Fansided

Top 25 MLB free agents for 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Washington Nationals in game three of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park on October 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Washington Nationals in game three of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park on October 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

6. Hyun-Jin Ryu

The qualifying offer has most often benefited owners and teams more than the players, but every once in a while, a player who bets on himself and accepts the offer comes out on top. That’s definitely what happened for Hyun-Jin Ryu with the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. The 32-year-old won the MLB ERA title and reached his highest innings total since 2013.

Injuries have always plagued the Korean left-hander, but he has been one of the league’s best starters when healthy. Ryu has pitched in parts of six MLB seasons and is 54-33 with a 2.98 ERA in 740.1 innings with strong peripherals that help make his case as a number-two starter in any playoff rotation.

Ryu has a 2.21 ERA over his last 44 starts, sandwiched around a groin injury that limited him to only 15 starts in 2018. He had a 1.45 ERA as late as August 11 before back-to-back seven-run starts sent his ERA above 2.00 for the rest of the year. Ryu has also pitched into the playoffs the last two seasons.

Barring a big shift away from their plan to pay up for their own free agents, look for Ryu and the Dodgers to come back together on a multi-year deal. He is very popular in Los Angeles, where the front office has been more willing to spend on in-house free agents like Justin Turner and Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers might not have the cash to make a run at Gerrit Cole or Anthony Rendon, but they’ll have what it takes to keep Ryu.

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