Ryu Hyun-jin becomes a free agent after 7 years in Majors

It’s official: Ryu Hyun-jin is now a free agent, after spending seven years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced its list of 131 free agents on Thursday, a day after the conclusion of the 2019 World Series.

More players could join them, pending option decisions in their current deals.

And Ryu, the Korean left-hander coming off a Cy Young Award-worthy campaign, is one of four Dodgers to elect for free agency.

Ryu signed a six-year, $36-million deal before the 2013 season, after pitching for seven years in the KBO.

Then last winter, Ryu accepted a one-year qualifying offer, worth $17.9 million, to stay with the Dodgers.

He went 14-5 with a major league-best 2.32 ERA and threw 182 2/3 innings, his highest total since his 192 innings as a rookie in 2013. He was the National League (NL) starter at the All-Star Game and the National League Pitcher of the Month for May.

Ryu recently finished second to Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets for the NL Outstanding Pitcher award, presented by the MLBPA as part of its Players Choice Awards.

Ryu, 32, is represented by Scott Boras, the man behind a series of record-breaking deals, most recently Bryce Harper’s 13-year, $330-million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Yonhap