Padres: 3 free agent pitching targets not named Stephen Strasburg

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets throws to a Washington Nationals batter in the fourth inning at Nationals Park on September 04, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 04: Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets throws to a Washington Nationals batter in the fourth inning at Nationals Park on September 04, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Hyun-Jin  Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals in Game 3 of the NLDS at Nationals Park on October 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Hyun-Jin  Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals in Game 3 of the NLDS at Nationals Park on October 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Hyun-Jin Ryu

Let’s be honest here, if the Los Angeles Dodgers want Hyun-Jin Ryu back, they’ll get him back.

But if they decide to move on from the veteran pitcher, he’ll probably want to stay on the West Coast and could be a nice fit in the Padres young rotation.

Don’t forget, before getting injured down the stretch, Ryu was on track to win the NL CY Young award in 2019.

He still finished the season with 14 wins and a 2.32 ERA in 182.7 innings with 163 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.01.

He’s never had an ERA over four in his six-year MLB career, but he has had issues staying healthy as he’s never topped 200 innings.

And 2019 was the first time since 2013 that he threw over 180 innings in a season.

Still, if the Padres wanted to look for a veteran on a much shorter deal who has the potential to be an ace, they could turn to Ryu.

MLBTR predicts that he’ll get a three-year deal worth $54 million, which seems reasonable and about right.

I think the market for Ryu will be very limited though, and again, if the Dodgers don’t want him I think San Diego could be an ideal landing spot.

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