Los Angeles Dodgers: Why Hyun-Jin Ryu won’t be a Dodger in 2020

3. If the Dodgers are going to spend then they should spend big

This free-agent class is deep with starting pitching and considering that the Dodgers have a lot of room under the luxury tax threshold, they are definitely players for the biggest pitching names available.

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Which raises the question: why would the Dodgers pay $100-125 million for a 32-year old Ryu when they can pay $200 million to a 29-year old Gerrit Cole?

There are several options for the Dodgers to explore this winter. Cole is certainly one coming off of a Cy Young season and some playoff performances that every Dodger fan yearns for. Cole has LA ties, so perhaps he wants to come home and contend in Dodger Blue.

There is also Stephen Strasburg, who has a player option in the final year of his deal. While I think it is likely that he either stays in Washington or goes to the San Diego Padres (San Diego native), it would not be all that shocking if he went to a team that practices pitching culture and provides the strongest foundation.

Either way, even though they are spending more, the Dodgers would be much better off getting an arm of this caliber. That way the team is bringing in someone who can be that bonafide ace and can take some of the pressure off Buehler and Kershaw.

Ryu did that last year, sure, but is one year of that sample size worth close to $25 million per year? Muster up the extra $8 million per year and pay for someone who is just entering his prime and has proven that he can carry the load time and time again.

But hey, this Dodgers regime is not known for the massive free-agent splash. After being shockingly eliminated in the NLDS, perhaps they will have a reason to make the splash.