Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu Returns While Yasmani Grandal Declines the QO
The Dodgers have retained the services for Hyun-Jin Ryu for one more season after he accepted the qualifying offer. Yasmani Grandal on the other hand, declined the QO becoming a free agent.
The Dodgers found out the fate of their qualifying offers today as the deadline of 2 PM PST approached. The Dodgers retained the services of Hyun-Jin Ryu for one more season, while Yasmani Grandal declined the QO and officially became a free agent.
By accepting the qualifying offer, Hyun-Jin Ryu will make 17.9 million dollars in 2019 before becoming a free agent again. The move is similar to former left-hander Brett Anderson who also accepted the QO back in 2016. Over the last three seasons, Ryu has pitched just over 200 total innings.
The 2018 season was a strong one for Hyun-Jin when he was healthy at least. This season Ryu went 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA. He started off his postseason strong with a dominant outing against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, but the rest of his postseason was forgetful. Ryu will look to put together a strong second season in a row to cash in on a multi-year offer next winter.
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Ryu had expressed his interest to return to the Dodgers so accepting one year at a high salary is a fair deal to both sides. For the Dodgers, it eliminates the risk of a multi-year contract and for Ryu he cashes in. The Dodgers now have a surplus of starting pitching although past seasons have proven that you can never have too much starting pitching.
Yasmani Grandal, on the other hand, has declined the Dodgers’ qualifying offer as expected. The slugging catcher put together another solid season behind the plate slugging 24 home runs and providing his usual stellar pitch framing. Although Grandal had a rough go in the postseason, he has been very good for the Dodgers during his Dodger tenure.
Grandal fell apart defensively in the postseason and his bat was once again a no-show in October. Yasmani hit just .138 this October and during his four postseasons with the Dodgers, he has hit just .107. While Grandal departing may not seem like a bad thing, it very much is as the Dodgers now must figure out what to behind the plate in 2019.
This winter Grandal is one of the top ten free agents available and arguably the best catcher on the market next to Wilson Ramos. The Dodgers’ do have a plethora of catching prospects but none of them seem to be ready for 2019. The Dodgers now must decide whether to acquire a stopgap option behind the plate or put either Will Smith or Keibert Ruiz in a trial by fire situation.