Ryu Hyun Jin’s Next Move: Could San Diego Padres Make a Play?

As the mid-February Major League Spring Training approaches, the future of Ryu Hyun Jin remains uncertain. Amid this, A.J. Preller, the San Diego Padres General Manager, revealed a subtle stance on recruiting Ryu.

According to local media outlets such as MLB.com, Preller mentioned Ryu, a free agent, on the 14th (Korean time).

Preller did not want to mention any specific pitcher regarding strengthening the starting options. He said, “I personally respect Ryu. He came back from an injury and played healthily. I’ve always been respecting him.”

In a previous interview with The Athletic on the 11th, Preller stated, “We are still actively talking with several players in the free agency market. There are outfielders and starting pitchers. Of course, we also want a bullpen style.” He did not deny that he was in contact with Ryu.

With the Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals, both rumored destinations for Ryu, officially stepping back from the free agency market, attention is drawn to Ryu’s potential move to San Diego following Preller’s remarks.

Preller didn’t say much about the future of the team’s key infielder, Kim Ha Seong. According to recent local media reports, amid financial difficulties, San Diego is considering Kim as a trade target.

Preller said, “Many players are being mentioned. We are consistent about Kim. We never hang up when we get a call. We listen to any story.”

He added, “We do not need to push first. Kim is a big part of our team. Kim has to be in the middle infield if we want to play a good game.”

He also did not make a clear statement about the extension of Kim’s contract. He said, “I will not mention any details now. We have let Kim know that we value him. Kim understands this. The team, Kim, and his agent will decide what will happen over the next few months.”