The Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization announced this week that they’ve signed former Angels infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez to a one-year contract (link via the Yonhap News Agency). He’ll receive a $50K signing bonus, a $300K base salary and another $350K worth of incentives, giving him the opportunity to earn up to a total of $700K on the deal.
Fernandez, 30, made his big league debut with the Halos this past season and posted a .267/.309/.388 batting line with a pair of home runs and eight doubles through 123 trips to the plate. Those numbers are hardly inspiring, but Fernandez is also a veteran of the Cuban National Series who’s previously served as the second baseman on Cuba’s World Baseball Classic team. He hit .315 or better in six of his eight pro seasons in Cuba and turned in a terrific .332/.397/.531 line through 406 career plate appearances at the Triple-A level between the Dodgers and Angels organizations. Fernandez also walked nearly as many times (34) as he struck out (35) in that time in Triple-A — a trait which a Bears spokesperson highlighted as particularly intriguing when announcing the move.
By going to South Korea, Fernandez will secure a greater payday than he would have bouncing back and forth between the Majors and minors, and a strong showing for a year or two in Asia could create greater intrigue among Major League clubs than he’d have otherwise received. Heading overseas also creates the potential to return as a free agent who can command a more substantial than he’d have otherwise commanded as a pre-arbitration player through at least the 2021 season.
Hernandez is the second former Angels infielder to sign with an Asian team in the past week; Jefry Marte inked a one-year deal with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball last week.
Welcome back Steve! TC and George were giving “flavor” names to types of men’s bodies in a previous post (re: Castellanos), so it’s great to have you back.
He had to run to Korea so he wouldn’t have to face the A’s.
Sounds like he might have fit in Toronto…although the prospect of losing 100+ games can’t be too appealing.
I was actually thinking the same thing. Would rather have seen them sign him than Eric Sogard.
Is Doosan Korean for Bad News?
Boooo
it’s beer and soju producer. it’s gotta be good news for most.
Wow! Soju! Looked it up.
That stuff can be potent!!!
That and heavy equipment
good luck in a new team and a new country.
Does anyone know if Korean or Japanese leagues put a cap on how many foreign born players can be on the roster?
I believe it is three for Japan but I am not sure
4 in Japan, but after a certain amount of years, a foreign player becomes a regular roster player and they can add another, increasing that player’s value.
Korean clubs are limited to three foreign-born players on their rosters. See the 6th paragraph.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/09/kbo-establishes-salary-ceiling-on-foreign-players.html
Fernandez, Marte and Blash all seem like they will fit right in and mash overseas.
Omg there goes the angels World Series chances now lol
Yet another Cuban star! Boy those guys sure all live up to the hype.
Was he ever a star and what hype? The Dodgers signed him knowing he was defensively deficient, and paid his accordingly. 500K on the free agent market does not indicate anything other than a flier.
Even though it’s a hitters league, it’ll give him a full time opportunity he wouldn’t have found here. Good luck to him.