Boras: Free agents will look differently at Blue Jays after Ryu signing

Super agent Scott Boras is confident the Toronto Blue Jays have now changed the perception the club is unwilling to spend money following the signing of his client, Hyun-Jin Ryu.

"I think in next year’s round of free agency there’s going to be people looking at this team a lot differently than they did two years ago," Boras said Friday during Ryu's introductory press conference in Toronto, according to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.

Boras admitted the Korean left-hander was intrigued by what the Blue Jays offered beyond the four-year, $80-million pact.

"He said I want to come here to be a winner, I want to come here to be a leader," the agent said.

Boras also praised the team's ownership group, Rogers Communications, for giving Toronto's front office the green light to spend.

"I think it’s really about winning," he said. "The wealthiest ownership group in baseball sits right here."

The tone of the comments is a dramatic change from last offseason when Boras criticized the roster for a dip in attendance at the Rogers Centre, citing the Blue Jays' inability to bring in attractive names.

Meanwhile, Ryu, the National League Cy Young runner-up in 2019, instantly endeared himself to the Blue Jays faithful on Friday.

The 32-year-old led all qualified starters with a 2.32 ERA while with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.