No MLB teams bid for Korean third baseman Jae-gyun Hwang, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency tweets. The KBO’s Lotte Giants posted Hwang on Monday. Hwang can become a free agent after the season.
If any of this sounds familiar, it might be because Hwang was posted only because his teammate, Ah-seop Son, also did not attract any interest after Lotte posted him. (KBO rules stipulate that a team can only post one player at a time and can only accept one bid per offseason.) Both players had impressive statistics in 2015 — the 28-year-old Hwang batted .290/.350/.521 with 26 homers in 2015, solid numbers even in the hitter-friendly KBO. Meanwhile, KBO slugger Byung Ho Park did attract a bid, but signed a contract with the Twins that many commentators found to be rather small.
The size of Park’s contract surely partially was a result of his lack of bargaining power through the posting system, of course. But the lack of a market for KBO players like Hwang and Son this winter perhaps suggests that MLB teams remain skeptical of how KBO players will fare in MLB, even after Jung Ho Kang‘s success with the Pirates last season.
I still have trouble imagining that teams wouldn’t just throw out a one or two million bid just in case. It’s a minimal and affordable risk, and you get it back if Lotte declines it, which is likely
In 9 seasons, he’s had like 3 good years.
That’s not unusual for a 27-year-old, though.
And the White Sox will start which 3B?
Olt and Saladino. Maybe Davidson if he dominates in spring training. Not very promising but better than throwing millions at Lotte and Hwang. I would think a trade for Lawrie would make sense if Sox want to upgrade.
Hwang is probably about as good as what the Sox have now. If Hwang can get his OPS over 1.000 for 2016, he would look good as an unrestricted free agent. I think he will have the 8 years needed.
Olt and Davidson were both top prospects not that long ago. They (especially Davidson) deserve a chance at a sustained big league job.
Please explain to me how Davidson “deserves a chance at a sustained big league job.” He doesn’t deserve anything. He’s been absolutely garbage the last 2 years. The only reason he’s still on a Triple-A roster is because he was a top prospect not too long ago.
It’s December. There’s time.
Makes me wonder if anyone besides the Twins put a bid in for Park
I thought a number of teams repotedly said they were in, but not that high.
Two other teams bid $11MM for Park.
well i guess these players arent that good if MLB teams wont touch them
Most teams didn’t want Kang. Just saying.
with how ichiro suzuki career turn out you think at least one team would take a risk. but i guess those triple A type parks hurt them
Ichiro was never a power bat like park or hwang, so the hitter friendly parks didn’t effect him as much
I agree, a bit surprising no offers at all came in given the lack of available 3B.
i guess teams worry too much their bats wont do well in the MLB. if they arent a pitcher they will have a harder time making it in the MLB
collusion on the part of mlb teams
Why would they do that?
Kang did well with the Pirates but that was after having a .739 SLG in his last year in the KBO. Hwang was “only” .521 last year. That might have factored into the thinking.
Guys : Kang is from Korea. Ichiro is grim Japan. Just saying.
From Japan. Sorry. Must’ve been Autocorrect . lol
They should of posted sum-yug-ho. Bet they would have got posting bids then.
Not sure if this means no bids as in zero, or no acceptable bids were placed.
Park is low risk high reward for Twins. He could be great or he could be a bust. It looks to be worth the three year contract.
I didn’t see this happening again. My guess is the lotte giants might of made it known to mlb teams that they wouldn’t except a tiny bid on him.
he didn’t dominate KBO like Kang and Park, so scouts didn’t see any potentials in him.
This, I couldn’t agree more.
White Sox blew it here, too; the OTHER swing & a miss being Tubby Navarro signed instead of the available Saltalamaccia. Davidson should never have been signed and Olt should have been released already. Hwang has defensive abilities you just can’t teach. They come from knowing what it takes to be at ease in your position. He might not be a power hitter, but he does make sufficient contact to make things happen. They will probably be kicking themselves later….