News/views: Pirates sign Kang

Jon Heyman reporting the 4 year contract is worth something in the neighborhood of $11 million. Less than the earlier reports.

If true, that is Clint Barmes like money, this guy has more upside than Clint

Curious as to why you think this is a steal. How do we have any idea at this point? Maybe you have inside information.

Smart comment. I think that increased visibility might be the biggest benefit of the deal. Have a strong connection to the Houston Rockets, and it's absolutely amazing how beloved that team is in China because of the risk they took on Yao Ming.

I understand the frustration with Pedro, and share it. But, although my expectations are low, I would love to see him return to the form he showed in the 2013 postseason, and do well at first base. The most difficult to understand part of the Pedro saga is that either he is ignoring the advice of his agent, or his agent isn't doing a good job of warning him that he is building ill-will from the fans and the team when he doesn't do the visible things that would make him look like he is embracing the move to first, and working his butt off. If he doesn't come out crushing the ball at the start of the season, and fielding well at first base, the fans will be ready to run him out of town. I really don't want to see that ugly scene of a full stadium booing him on opening day if he commits a costly error or strikes out in a key situation.

"$11 million for 4 years is definitely worth it". That depends on his actual production. If his fielding and hitting in the long term is equal to last year's version of Pedro, "worth it" will be debatable. I think it's a worthwhile gamble, if for no other reason than that it gives the fans something to talk about, but it is still a gamble of a few million dollars.

Yes, surprisingly definitive coming from NH, who seldom leaves a statement like that hang out there without any wiggle room.

If you click on your UniPress name on the main site, you can change your nickname easily. Also, click the avatar to create one. Only on the main site, not the app.

OK I think I have a name and avatar again.

Not sure if that is really true, from watching video. Kang's leg kick is different than what we're used to seeing from western players like Jose Bautista. Jose is fully committed to the swing as soon as the foot starts to drop, rarely any change in tempo from swing to swing.

Kang seems to use his as more of a timing mechanism. Some swings the foot will drop quickly. Others, he'll add a pause mid-movement.

I can't think of any big leaguers that have ever had this type of swing, and if I was smart enough to tell you whether or not it'll work I surely wouldn't be commenting on DK's site right now!

Should be interesting.

+1

NMR, I understand what you're saying regarding using it as a timing mechanism, but if, as you say, you "can't think of any big leaguers that have ever had this type of swing", there's a good reason for that. It's not likely to be a swing that will be particularly effective in MLB.

@Scaldis - I definitely get that thinking, and no doubt the rest of baseball does as well, judging by the relatively small posting amounts. But how many guys threw like Fernando before he broke into the league? Heck, how many guys have ever thrown like Chris Sale does right now?

"Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful."

More avatar-less comments! Come on, guys! Don't make me hunt you down! Just click on the blank avatar to the left and create one. Super easy. Thanks!

Personally, if he did that, I'd trade him...he is not resigning.

Trade him at "high" value.

The only way he'll stay is if he stinks, and it doesn't sound like the Pirates will keep him if he stinks. He's gone after this year. Hope he does well here.

" At least he recouped some trade value."

As I said in the previous post, it isn't just minicamp. Its skipping out on Winter Ball when they wanted him to go. Its been conditioning both in season and offseason. Its about working on your craft. If your gonna laud Crosby, Harrison, Russell Martin for it, you can also criticize a player for not doing it. We will see.

I think that's really fair. NMR noted that the other day, an absolute ton of catchers moved after Cervelli. He's my health concern...If I were Pirate GM for a day, I would have tried to pry Kimbrel from the Braves. Steep price to pay for sure, but him and Watson would be wicked backend for a few years. Always feels like an adventure with the Shark.

I know big bad Pedro is all the rage, but if Russell Martin taught us all the value of a good catcher, I can't imagine how one could be very comfortable with Cervelli and Stewart.

Agree, sir.

Thanks, JAL. Melancon will be interesting.

agreement with Melacon reached, $5.4 million

Wow. Kept hearing 7.

Snider agrees to $2.1 M

Sean Rodriguez ($1.9 M) and Tony Watson ($1.75 M)

Leaves Walker, Alvarez, and Worley

I'm not sure what Neal was implying, but reading Kang's quote, sounds like typical athlete confidence. Not a bad thing. Hardly called Mercer a bumb. Not sure how the quote, whether one or many, was "undermining" Mercer. If it did, shame on Mercer (and I don't think it will). Mercer clearly has the upper hand. Only way this works out in Kang's favor is if he clearly beats Jordy.

Here's 24/7's report:
http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/7548689-74/mercer-kang-shortstop#axzz3P0pyTFIc

No. Just flat-out misquoted.

He never mentioned Mercer by name. The Korean reporter who broke the story is to blame for making it seem like he did. It was irresponsible journalism on his part.

This is just a question, honestly. Do we have any actual Korean speakers who know that he was misquoted, or are we just taking Korean-language scholar Neal Huntington's word for it?