Two special pitchers have disappeared from the upcoming major league free agent market. Shohei Ohtani (28, LA Angels) is likely to need elbow surgery, and Julio Urias (27, LA Dodgers) caused controversy due to domestic violence charges.
As variables arose for the two pitchers who were called the biggest names, the landscape of the free agent pitcher market this winter also fluctuated. The market situation is rapidly changing so that other free agent pitchers, including Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays), can enjoy reflected profits.메이저사이트
Otani faces inevitable elbow surgery, Urias kicks luck on his own
Ohtani, who is the biggest pitcher in free agency, is forced to have elbow surgery even if he is not Tommy John. Otani’s agent, CAA Sports Nezu Valero, met with local reporters, including MLB.com, on the 5th (Korean time) and said, “It is highly likely that he will undergo elbow surgery, even if it is not Tommy John.”
After Ohtani was pulled from the Cincinnati Reds game on the 24th of last month due to pain in his right elbow, an examination revealed damage to his medial collateral ligament (UCL). The possibility of a second Tommy John surgery in five years was raised since October 2018, but Valero said, “The ligaments were not damaged at the time of the surgery. “It’s very positive that no problems were found,” he said, explaining that the injury occurred elsewhere. If the previous surgery was above the elbow ligament, the injury this time is below.
He continued, “Ohtani loves throwing the ball, and I have no doubt he will come back as a pitcher. “He will continue to serve as a pitcher in the future,” he said. He avoided Tommy John surgery, which requires at least a year of rehabilitation, but did not specify when he would return as a pitcher. I am cautious because it could affect FA value in some way. It is inevitable that Ohtani’s free agent value as an elite pitcher will be reduced due to sudden injury variables.
Here, another special free agent pitcher left on his own. Urias, who received attention as the biggest pitcher among pure pitchers, was arrested and indicted by the police on charges of domestic violence. He was released on $50,000 bail, but will appear in court on the 28th.
Urias was also arrested in May 2019 on charges of assaulting his girlfriend and was released on $20,000 bail, but was placed on administrative leave. He was subsequently suspended 20 games by the Major League Baseball office. He is accused of domestic violence again four years later. The Dodgers team, which is conservative about the player’s personal life, decided to exclude Urias from the team until the facts were known and the related investigation was completed. He will not accompany the six-game away game starting on the 6th.
The Major League Baseball office and the players’ union signed a treaty to prevent domestic violence, sexual violence, and child abuse in August 2015. Severe disciplinary action was imposed on players who violated this rule, and if the charges are confirmed, Urias will become the first player to be disciplined twice. If aggravated punishment is imposed on his suspension, it is bound to have a significant impact on the free agent price. This year’s performance (11 wins, 8 losses, ERA 4.60 in 21 games) is already not good, but a major negative event occurred.
Pitcher’s biggest free agent term is changing, will Ryu Hyun-jin’s value also soar?
The pitcher who will benefit the most from the variables of Ohtani and Urias is Blake Snell (31, San Diego Padres). Snell, who has 12 wins, 9 losses, an ERA of 2.50, and 201 strikeouts in 28 games (155 innings) this season, is a strong candidate for the National League (NL) Cy Young Award. Although he has poor ball control with the most walks (89), he ranks first in earned run average with his powerful pitch. If he wins the Cy Young Award at his current pace, he is expected to receive market attention as the biggest free agent pitcher.
After Snell, relatively young starting pitchers such as Lucas Giolito (29, Cleveland Guardians), Aaron Nola (30, Philadelphia Phillies), and Jordan Montgomery (31, Texas Rangers) are considered candidates for long-term contracts. Eduardo Rodriguez (30, Detroit Tigers), who could become a free agent by opting out, and Marcus Stroman (32, Chicago Cubs), who is likely to give up his player option, are also expected to be in high demand when they hit the market.
Among veteran pitchers, Sonny Gray (34, Minnesota Twins), Clayton Kershaw (35, Dodgers), and Ryu Hyun-jin, who rank first in the American League (AL) in ERA (2.92), stand out. As he is approaching his mid-to-late 30s, it is difficult to sign a long-term contract, but he can expect a high salary with a short-term contract of 1 to 2 years. Kershaw had a month and a half absence this year due to shoulder pain, but his pitching content is still good, with 12 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 2.48 in 20 games (112⅓ innings).
Ryu Hyun-jin, who returned to the major league mound last month after undergoing Tommy John surgery and rehabilitation for the first time in 14 months, is showing signs of good health with 3 wins, 1 loss, and an average ERA of 2.48 in 6 games (29 innings) since his return. Although the number of pitches did not exceed 90 for injury management purposes, he has maintained stability by pitching less than 2 earned runs in the last 5 consecutive games. On the 7th, Ryu Hyun-jin attempts to achieve his fourth win of the season against the last-place team, the Oakland Athletics, who have the lowest winning percentage (.304) in the entire league.