Happy New Year to all of our readers here at MLBTR! As MLB teams begin to gear up for what should be the most active January in hot stove history, here are a few notes on the international market…
- First baseman Ji-Man Choi’s agency in Korea recently spoke to the media about their client’s current foray into free agency and revealed that he’s received offers (presumably of the minor league variety) from the Yankees, Angels, Rays, A’s, Brewers, Marlins, Cubs, Reds, Orioles, Twins, Braves, Blue Jays and White Sox (English link via Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency). The 26-year-old Choi slugged a pair of homers in 18 plate appearances with the Yankees last year and posted a strong year with their Triple-A affiliate, slashing .288/.373/.538 in 87 games. In parts of five Triple-A campaigns, Choi has posted a robust .298/.390/.479 batting line.
- Right-hander Kodai Senga of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Nippon Professional Baseball is eyeing a jump to the Major Leagues down the line, per a report from the Japan Times (link in English). Senga, 25 next month, is currently negotiating a new contract with the Hawks, according to the report, so it doesn’t seem as though the move would happen until next offseason at the earliest. Next year will be Senga’s sixth full season in NPB, meaning he’ll have the pro experience and be old enough to be exempt from the international bonus pool system. However, he’d still be subject to the newly augmented posting system agreed to by MLB, NPB and the MLBPA. At present, Senga owns a career 2.52 ERA with 10.1 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9 in 418 innings. The righty moved from the bullpen to the rotation in 2016 and owns a 2.63 ERA in 47 starts over the past two seasons.
- Left-hander Hyeon-jong Yang has re-signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization, Yoo writes in a second report. Set to turn 30 in March, Yang is fresh off an MVP season with the Tigers, having thrown 193 1/3 innings of 3.44 ERA ball with 7.4 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9 in the hitter-friendly KBO. The southpaw has garnered interest from MLB teams in the past, though his KBO club did not accept the winning bid when he was initially posted for Major League teams back in the 2014-15 offseason. Yang, who has been pitching professionally since he was 19, now has enough experience to qualify as a true free agent without any restrictions but will nonetheless return to the KBO for a 12th pro season. His deal with the Tigers is worth $2.14MM, per Yoo, giving him the second-highest annual salary of any player in the KBO (behind former Mariners first baseman Dae-ho Lee).
Got the trade rumor notification on my tablet and got excited about the reds making a deal. what a let down. Happy new year, I guess
you will learn not to get too excited with the Reds updates on here …. although Hughes looks like a good pickup !
You will enjoy Hughes sad he’s not a Brewer!!!
Lol. Same here. I’m hoping they add Stammen or another quality arm before ST
Thanks, Steve. You’re right. Should be a busier January for FA, to make up for slow FA to sign De
Happy 2018!!!
Huh hopefully Choi gets his chance, it seems he earned it
He really has earned it. I would be cool with seeing him in a White Sox uniform next year.
Would like to see Choi as Birds Back up even with Austin on the roster.
That being said I’d be just as happy if he got a real shot on another team.
ji-man saw a ghost while staying at a hotel in milwaukee a few years ago. then our mayor made fun if him and his batting average. true story. ..so I’m not sure he will choose the brewers.
How do you pronounce the team that Senga is on?
Minor league depth but it makes you wonder if there is interest in Aguilar.
How come US players agents dont speak to media about teams interest in their players (other than Boras once in awhile)?
Braves could trade with K.C.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Markakis,I.Anderson,Muller,B.Wilson,Ruiz,Demeritte,L.Adams and Kazmir FOR Duffy,Herrera,Soler,H.Dozier,Buchter,S.Alexander and J.Hammel. SignJ.Choi. Pitchers=====Duffy-Teheran-Gohara-Folty-Newcombe. Bullpen==========Vizcaino(CL),Minter,Herrera,S.Alexander,Buchter,Freeman,Sims,Cabrera,Ramirez,Weigel Lineup==========Inciarte(CF),Albies(2B),Freeman(1B),Dozier(3B),Choi(LF),Acuna(RF),Flowers(C),Swanson(SS)
are you on dope?
LOL. Prob easier to say who is not being traded. Where do you people come up with this stuff?
i would love to see kodai senga sign with the indians to bolster the bullpen that my guess
Choi is at or close to the top of the list of minor league free agents who I see as a major leaguer in some capacity.
Problem for Senga is that his team, the Hawks, is known for not allowing their players to leave by posting.
Kenji Johjima, Tsuyoshi Wada, Munenori Kawasaki, they all came to the Majors when they played long enough to become an international free agent, which were in their 30s.