Los Angeles (AFP) – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin became only the sixth player to accept a Major League Baseball qualifying offer, agreeing Monday to a one-year deal with the Dodgers worth $17.9 million.
The 31-year-old South Korean left-hander, who helped his homeland capture 2008 Beijing Olympic gold, became the first World Series starter from his baseball-loving nation this year, but the Dodgers lost the title to the Boston Red Sox.
Ryu became the rare player to take the deal on offer in the qualifying system, the mean salary of the 125 highest-paid players in Major League Baseball.
He was the only player among seven eligible this year to accept the qualifying offer and just the sixth to take the deal among 80 overall players since the system began in 2012.
Teams extended prospective free agents offers by November 2 and they had 10 days to accept it or seek a multi-season contract as a free agent. Penalties of lost draft picks for teams signing players who reject qualifying offers were eased last year, creating a better talent marketplace.
Among those who said no to qualifying offers were Houston left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel, who helped the Astros beat the Dodgers in last year’s World Series, Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, Red Sox closing right-handed relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.
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