Lefties Ca$h In

Two more veteran lefthanders came off the Free Agent board over the weekend. Hyun Jin Ryu puts Dodgers Stadium in his rear-view mirror and heads to Toronto for four years, $80 million and unlimited Labatt's (not sure about that -- his agent has been mum). Since returning from a 2018 groin injury, the South Korea native has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. In 44 starts over the last two years, his ERA has been 2.21. Unhittable during the first half of 2019, he finshed second to Max Scherzer for the NL Cy Young. About to turn 33, the only question relates to age and projected durability -- apparently Toronto GM Ross Atkins feels more confident about what he sees in his crystal ball than his Dodgers counterpart Andrew Friedman.

Dallas Keuchel (below) is also leaving the National League for the American; of course, in his case, it's a return visit. After a ridiculous delay in landing a free agent contract -- was a top draft pick really that valuable?? -- he turned in a rather ordinary 8 - 8 record with the Braves -- capped dropping his last three starts in September. Younger than Ryu (he'll be 32 on New Year's Day), but without the stellar 2019 numbers, he had to "settle" for three guaranteed seasons and $55 million with the White Sox -- plus a fourth year option.

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