Jung-Ho Kang slugged 40 home runs and was the Korean league’s MVP in 2014. — YUNHAP
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
News: The Pirates have submitted the winning bid of $5,002,015 to negotiate with Korean power-hitting shortstop Jung-Ho Kang, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. They now have, per international rules, a 30-day window in which to sign a player known to be seeking a deal of three or four years at roughly $5 million annually.
Views: Well, that’s a first. The Pirates have been active in Korea, even sending their Latin American scouts there on occasion, and have turned up amateur talent. But I’d long gotten the impression from Frank Coonelly and Neal Huntington that the odds were so stacked against them in the bidding system for Japanese and Korean professional players — which is wholly separate from other international processes — that they’d never compete.
Kang, 27, batted .356./.459/.739 with 40 home runs for Nexen, a team based in Seoul. Here’s much more on his season from Yonhap News Agency in Korea.
Here are some 2014 highlights:
The immediate question, of course, is whether or not the Pirates will sign him. I’d be stunned if they didn’t. They knew Kang’s asking price entering the bidding, and Kang’s U.S.-based agent, Alan Nero, has made no secret of his wish to come to the majors. A player in Korea must complete seven full seasons there to be eligible for posting, so this is a big goal. Kang will want to come.
The hotter question, beyond that, is how this impacts Jordy Mercer and/or Neil Walker. Although Kang played short for Nexen, that doesn’t mean he can do it at the highest level. It’s no place to take a defensive gamble.
A rather predictable offseason just got pretty interesting, huh?
I hope you're kidding, but if not, why would they trade him? Even if he regresses some, he's still a bargain because his arbitration value is low because he's only had one really good season.
Very glad to see this. Whether he competes for a starting spot, or spot starts, flexibility with
injuries/struggling players, it's a good "problem" to have guys that can play. (Which it's yet
to be seen how good he is at the MLB level.)
Nice that the Pirates are able to get the bid, and hopefully get him signed.
I imagine he is insurance for both Harrison, Mercer, and Walker. Harrison after only showing us 1 good season, Mercer for not having quite yet proven he's a full time starter, and Walker due to injuries. I will temper expectations if only because Eric Thames was 3rd in HR's in the KBO last year.
I love JHay, and think Mercer is adequate, but neither are guarantees at this point. I've seen too many career years for some players only for them to revert, or some not put it together. Kang is no guarantee either, and depending on the contract length/cost, he might be making what is considered league average. I wouldn't call it pricey yet, considering we paid Barmes what we did.
If the Pirates are willing to spend $5 million just for the right to negotiate and possibly another 4-6 million a year for 3 to 4 years on a player of any kind, then they are more than likely assuming he will take a starting role sooner than later due to either poor play by Mercer, or Walker not re-upping with the Pirates at some point. Have the extension talks with Walker hit a wall?
The money that Kang will ultimately cost them is a lot to spend on a bench player - let alone one that is unproven on this side of the Pacific - and normally what big market teams do, not the Pirates, especially a Pirates team who's upper management likes to continually remind everyone that they are indeed a "small market team".
Don't think the talks with Neil Walker were ever that serious. Don't ask me why, but Huntington just doesn't like him. New guy may be Walker's replacement.
HockeyGal87 "...Huntington just doesn't like him (Walker)." On what do you base that statement? There is zero evidence that he doesn't like Walker. That he hasn't signed Walker to a long term extension doesn't mean that he doesn't like him. It just means that earlier discussions didn't prove fruitful. It's quite reasonable to think that the Pirates wanted to sign him in previous seasons at a rate commensurate with an average 2nd baseman, but in more recent seasons decided to wait to resume discussions until they saw that he could get past his back problems. I like Neil Walker, and would love to see him sign a long term contract, but the Pirates have to be smart about considering whether he is worth a big contract, considering his injury history. A very important guiding principle that NH has articulated is that they offer contracts based on what they expect a player will do during the contract, not on what he has already done.
STOP! STOP! STOP! with the moving players all over the diamond talk. This is just nuts. Moving Pedro serves a purpose. The rest of this talk is just nonsense.
Why on earth are we talking trades? They have an infield with some depth now (assuming that he is signed and produces). You don't go a full season without a couple of infielders going down to injuries. Depth is essential if they want to compete for the division.
Mercer has no concerns as long as he doesn't implode. This is a an aggressive move that provides a lot of possible short and long-term security for some of the other spots, i.e., if Pedro doesn't work out or Walker walks in 2 years. I like it, need to be aggressive from time to time.
FWIW, the video indicates he's got a strong arm, range to his left, and decent plate coverage. As a "former catcher," it would seem that he is open to switching positions if necessary, which is better than can be said about certain other Buccos ;)
I think Walker is a blessing at 2b, Todd. He has close to the best production offensively in MLB as a 2b. Move him to 1b, and he's just average. As long as he can be an average fielder, they'll leave him at 2b.
This looks to me like a way for JHay to get back to, well, everywhere. Don't know where to play this guy? Start at 3B and go from there. It certainly solves a depth question in the infield.
Turning arguably the teams MVP from last season and a player who came so very close to winning the batting title back into a roving utility infielder so we can fit an unproven Korean utility infielder into the starting roster sounds like a pure genius move to me. Could do nothing but boost JHay's attitude and confidence with the team even more. If only they could cut his pay as well.
You have to let JHay be the starting 3B. He's earned that. Possibly may be the flash in the pan that many seem to think that he is but could have finally matured into a steady, productive player because he was finally given a chance to be an everyday player. We simply don't know.
Kang appears to be some insurance in case someone struggles badly or is traded. It's nice to have depth.
This isn't a guy that is a guarantee to even play every day in the majors this year. Let's not get ahead of ourselves on projecting him to be a starter at any infield position, especially one that hasn't been his normal position.
I'd still like to see if he can actually hit MLB pitching before hanging any "option" description on him. Even if they do sign Kang, he's still no more of a prospect to me than Hanson is.
Sorry, but this constant talk of moving Walker from 2nd base is just ridiculous. There is no reason to take a guy who just had an excellent season at 2nd and move him elsewhere.
I'm really surprised at this, but in a good way. I never thought they would ever win a bid for Japanese or Korean players. Kudos to the team. I'm really interested to see what they do if they can sign him. I think a trade of J-Hay or Walker is probable unless this new guy can play 1B.
You would consider trading JHay simply because of signing Kang? Don't know about everyone else here, and call me crazy but I'd at least be curious to see if ...gee, I don't know...HE'S ACTUALLY ANY GOOD AT THE MLB LEVEL. Wow, you'd think they are getting ready to sign Tulowitzki with the idea of moving him to 3rd base (good idea actually).
kenhev1 - Why on earth would they be trading away their starting infielder at either 2nd or 3rd when this guy hasn't even played a single inning in MLB, and has been a SS, not a 2nd or 3rd baseman?
Steve B. - finally someone with a sane view. I'm baffled by so many people suggesting that this opens things up for them to trade any of several players. This potentially adds good depth, but we won't know until he produces (or doesn't).
Given restrictions on draft and LatAm market, Pirates trying to find place where dollars are not restricted, and they can outperform. It makes sense - look at the value returned by Jose Abreu, Yaisel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes, Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka. Granted, all of these players were more expensive but none have disappointed and all were much better investments than many free agents. Kang from the Korean league is a greater unknown with a potentially high ceiling and low floor.
Clubs were able to get great bargains out of Cuba before the market adjusted. No longer an option for the Pirates. If they are to make a play on the international scene, it'll have to be in a new market.
Has anyone seen the show Storage Wars? Maybe all the teams were lined up around a batting cage, and a bug flew in Coonelly's eye and he was just swatting it away and they thought he made an actual bid. So, the auctioneer said, "Sold to the Pirates!" Just a thought.
I would really be surprised if they plan on signing this guy with the idea of trading a starter. As others above have said, how could they possibly know this guy will be able to hit MLB pitching well enough to be a starter? Also, he semes to be a suspect fielder according to the article. I don't know anything about S. Korean professional baseball. I assume the fences are shorter than MLB, but that's just a guess. I don't think MLB has had enough players come from there as position players to have developed any sort of an accurate estimate for how to translate production.
Still, though, I like that they jumped out and tried something like this. They'll never have the pick of the litter of MLB free agents. Maybe they can strike it rich with this guy. Go Kang!!
Good stuff, emoney. Sounds like Sadowski likes him, but he's definitely no sure thing - especially right out of the chute. He may even need to get comfortable in the minors for awhile, which probably makes sense. He said he's strong enough to hit HR in MLB, but he isn't used to facing 97 MPH or nasty off-speed stuff. He also thinks Kang's best position might be 3b.
What I really like most is the Bucs trying to find value accretive opportunities given the budget restrictions vs. the Yankees, Red Sox, etc. It may not always work out, but Huntington has been creative, and the Kang bid shows a continuation of this. As opposed to spending money for the sake of spending money, they are spending money in areas only where think they may better the ball club
This seems like a guy who will start the season in Indianapolis. And there is a huge difference in a major league breaking ball and a Korean league breaking ball. I read that the best Korean pitchers, aside a few that are well known would be no better than AA MLB pitchers.
Slow down, every one. It's a good gamble. The guy crushed the Korean league. Maybe it'll translate; maybe not. And let's not pretend JHay and Mercer are world beaters. Mercer is a good, not superstar-caliber hitter whose defense is average. JHay has had many chances and finally cashed in for one season---one--after essentially being repeatedly overmatched in seasons prior.
Mercer actually grades out well above average on defense. I agree that J-hay is far from a sure thing. This move is likely insurance against a Harrison regression, a Walker injury and a Pedro implosion.
I'm not holding out much hope for Alvarez, but moving Neil Walker from the position that he's played for years, after he just had an excellent season, is just foolish. Switching an established major league player to another position requires a very compelling reason, like a glut of premier young talent ready to take over for that veteran. They don't have a glut of major league ready young talent at 2nd, not even close.
Wonder if they are considering him at 1B or moving Walker to save on some wear and tear on his back.. If this signing does mean the end of Pedro at 1st base
It's likely that they aren't considering moving anyone to another position, except for Pedro's move to first. Until we see Jung-Ho Kang produce at the MLB level, he is at best a utility player, and may even start the season at AAA if that is an option. Nothing that has happened in this offseason changes their starting infield from Harrison at 3rd, Mercer at SS, Walker at 2nd, and Pedro/platoon at 1st. The effort to get the right to sign him is a good gamble, and may have a big payoff, but it could also be a complete bust. There just isn't a track record of Korean position players to use as a predictor of his potential for success.
RK PLAYER TEAM AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS WAR
1 Dee Gordon LAD 609 92 176 24 12 2 34 64 19 31 107 .289 .326 .378 .704 2.4
2 Daniel Murphy NYM 596 79 172 37 2 9 57 13 5 39 86 .289 .332 .403 .734 2.0
3 Neil Walker PIT 512 74 139 25 3 23 76 2 2 45 88 .271 .342 .467 .809 3.6
4 Chase Utley PHI 589 74 159 36 6 11 78 10 1 53 85 .270 .339 .407 .746 3.6
5 DJ LeMahieu COL 494 59 132 15 5 5 42 10 10 33 97 .267 .315 .348 .663 1.6
6 Aaron Hill ARI 501 52 122 26 3 10 60 4 3 28 92 .244 .287 .367 .654 -1.2
Everyone talking about trading Walker or not locking him up long term, check this out. Look at the MLB stats for Walker. The next best for HR`s among 2nd basemen is Wong with 12. Walker was also 3rd in MLB with a fielding percentage of .992. The old adage about being strong up the middle; Walker is a rare 2nd baseman. Mercer was 5th last season among MLB shortstops with a .982 FPCT. And, of course, Cutch. Walker`s back needs to hold up and somebody needs to teach Pedro how to lay of the slider. The catcher`s position is the scary part to me.
Kang is bench depth and insurance in case an infield starter struggles or is injured (which will happen). He'll get playing time, and lots of work in spring training. I'm good with this.
To review offseason:
1-Cerevelli replaces Martin (possible downgrade or push...but I'm OK with what Pirates offered/did here)
2-Bastardo replaces Wilson (slight upgrade)
3-Burnett replaces Volquez (slight upgrade given age)
4-Wang replaces Barmes (upgrade potential)
5-Hart replaces Gabby (upgrade potential)
6-Pedro replaces Ike (upgrade potential)
7-J-Hay replaces Pedro 3B (upgrade)
8-Rodriguez replaces J-Hay utility (downgrade)
What's left:
9-If getting picky, a surprise starting rotation addition that can push back of rotation to depth and/or bullpen upgrade
Lots to like about 2015....lots of interesting moves...but for some reason still feeling a pitcher short of being done...but maybe just getting picky.
I am confused...how does this bid process works...how does MLB go to Korea to make this legit...I am assuming Korean league does not have agents?! that can work independently from MLB or Korean League or am I just not getting it,
December 22, 2014
News/views: Pirates win bid on Korean MVP
by Dejan Kovacevic • Columns • Pirates
Jung-Ho Kang slugged 40 home runs and was the Korean league’s MVP in 2014. — YUNHAP
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
News: The Pirates have submitted the winning bid of $5,002,015 to negotiate with Korean power-hitting shortstop Jung-Ho Kang, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. They now have, per international rules, a 30-day window in which to sign a player known to be seeking a deal of three or four years at roughly $5 million annually.
Views: Well, that’s a first. The Pirates have been active in Korea, even sending their Latin American scouts there on occasion, and have turned up amateur talent. But I’d long gotten the impression from Frank Coonelly and Neal Huntington that the odds were so stacked against them in the bidding system for Japanese and Korean professional players — which is wholly separate from other international processes — that they’d never compete.
Kang, 27, batted .356./.459/.739 with 40 home runs for Nexen, a team based in Seoul. Here’s much more on his season from Yonhap News Agency in Korea.
Here are some 2014 highlights:
The immediate question, of course, is whether or not the Pirates will sign him. I’d be stunned if they didn’t. They knew Kang’s asking price entering the bidding, and Kang’s U.S.-based agent, Alan Nero, has made no secret of his wish to come to the majors. A player in Korea must complete seven full seasons there to be eligible for posting, so this is a big goal. Kang will want to come.
The hotter question, beyond that, is how this impacts Jordy Mercer and/or Neil Walker. Although Kang played short for Nexen, that doesn’t mean he can do it at the highest level. It’s no place to take a defensive gamble.
A rather predictable offseason just got pretty interesting, huh?