Dodgers bid $25.7M for chance to sign pitcher

SEOUL, South Korea — The Los Angeles Dodgers have bid nearly $26 million for a chance to sign pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin.

The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization said Saturday they have accepted a posting fee of $25.7 million for the 25-year-old left-hander. Major League Baseball later announced that the team was the Dodgers.

“We are thrilled to have this exciting opportunity,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. “We have watched Ryu pitch for a long time and he is another option to consider as we look to improve our team in 2013 and beyond.”

The Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers were also among the clubs thought to be interested in Ryu.

Los Angeles now has 30 days to negotiate a minor league or major league contract with Ryu and his agent, Scott Boras.

Ryu was 98-52 with a 2.80 career ERA during seven seasons in South Korea. He pitched for his country on teams that won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and reached the championship game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

The $25.7 million fee will be paid to the Eagles only if Ryu signs with the major league team.

The posting system brought Japanese stars Yu Darvish, Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka to the majors. Last winter, the Rangers gave Darvish a six-year contract guaranteeing him $56 million after submitting a record $51,703,411 posting bid to his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington head coach Nick Brown talks with his team during a time-out against Marysville Getchell during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Arlington boys basketball coach Nick Brown steps down

Brown spent 18 seasons as head coach, turning the Eagles into a consistent factor in Wesco.

Players run drills during a Washington Wolfpack of the AFL training camp at the Snohomish Soccer Dome on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Arena football is back in Everett

The Washington Wolfpack make their AFL debut on the road Saturday against the Oregon Black Bears.

Seattle Kraken defensemen Jamie Oleksiak (24) and Will Borgen (3) celebrate a goal by center Matty Beniers (10) against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Jeffrey T. Barnes / The Associated Press)
Kraken leaving ROOT Sports for new TV and streaming deals

Seattle’s NHL games are moving to KING 5 and KONG, where they’ll be free for local viewers.

Lake Stevens pitcher Charli Pugmire high fives first baseman Emery Fletcher after getting out of an inning against Glacier Peak on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lake Stevens tops Glacier Peak in key softball encounter

The Vikings strung together a three-run rally in the fifth inning to prevail 3-0.

UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu, left, pressures Arizona State quarterback Trenton Bourguet during the second half of an NCAA college football game Nov. 11, 2023, in Pasadena, Calif. Latu is the type of player the Seattle Seahawks may target with their first-round pick in the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)
Predicting who Seahawks will take with their 7 draft picks

Expect Seattle to address needs at edge rusher, linebacker and interior offensive line.

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird brings the ball up against the Washington Mystics during the second half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Aug. 18, 2022, in Seattle. The Storm’s owners, Force 10 Hoops, said Wednesday that Bird has joined the ownership group. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
Seattle Storm icon Sue Bird joins ownership group

Bird, a four-time WNBA champion with the Storm as a player, increases her ties to the franchise.

Seattle Mariners’ J.P. Crawford (3) scores on a wild pitch as Julio Rodríguez, left, looks on in the second inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Mariners put shortstop J.P. Crawford on the 10-day IL

Seattle’s leadoff hitter is sidelined with a right oblique strain.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, April 25

Prep roundup for Thursday, April 25: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez connects for a two-run home run next to Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim and umpire Mark Carlson during the third inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. It was Rodriguez’s first homer of the season. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Finally! Julio Rodriguez hits first homer of season

It took 23 games and 89 at bats for the Mariners superstar to go yard.

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, April 24

Prep roundup for Wednesday, April 24: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, April 23

Prep roundup for Tuesday, April 23: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (56) is taken off the field after being injured in the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The former first-round pick is an example of the Seahawks failing to find difference makers in recent NFL drafts. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
A reason Seahawks have 1 playoff win since 2016? Drafting

The NFL draft begins Thursday, and Seattle needs to draft better to get back to its winning ways.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.