Dodgers commit $61 million to Korean lefty Ryu Hyun-jin
- Ryu's agent, Scott Boras, has projected he'll be a No. 3 starter in the major leagues
Just because they made Zack Greinke the highest-paid right-handed pitcher ever doesn't mean the Los Angeles Dodgers are done spending money.
They struck an agreement on a six-year, 36 million contract with South Korean star pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin by Sunday's 5 p.m. ET deadline.
Combined with the $27.5 million posting fee, the Dodgers' commitment to Ryu will total $61.5 million.
The deal comes on the heels of the Dodgers reaching a six-year, $147 million agreement with Greinke on Saturday night. And it means the Dodgers have $98 million committed to eight starting pitchers in 2013.
The Dodgers made a multiyear contract offer to Ryu on Tuesday, but it was rejected by agent Scott Boras. "Predictably, it fell a tad short," general manager Ned Colletti told news reporters at the time.
Boras has projected Ryu as a No. 3 starter in the major leagues. Had they failed to strike a deal, the Eagles would have returned the $27.5 million posting fee to the Dodgers.
Ryu's deal also includes a $1 million bonus for winning the Cy Young Award, reports USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale.
In seven seasons in the KOB, South Korea's top professional league, Ryu was 98-52 with a 2.80 ERA. Assuming he's major league-ready, Ryu gives the Dodgers eight potential starting pitchers, many of them pricey:
- Clayton Kershaw ($11 million)
- Greinke ($29 million - a reported $12 million signing bonus and $17 million salary)
- Josh Beckett ($15.75 million)
- Chad Billingsley ($11 million)
- Ryu ($6 million, based on average annual value)
- Chris Capuano ($6 million)
- Aaron Harang ($7 million)
- Ted Lilly ($12 million)
Presumably, one or more of these pitchers would be moved during the offseason.