Shortly after signing Zack Greinke to a longterm deal in December of 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers further bolstered their starting rotation by inking Hyun-Jin Ryu to a six-year, $36 million contract. That was on top of the Dodgers’ reported $25,737,737.33 bid paid to the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization to win exclusive negotiating rights with Ryu.
The left-hander went on to establish himself as a bonafide third starter for the Dodgers during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Ryu finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting, and won 14 games in each of his first two seasons with the club.