Slugging Korean outfield Sung-Bum Na’s posting period came to an end today. The 31-year-old, who has played his entire eight-year career with the NC Dinos, will return to the KBO after failing to come to an agreement with a Major League team, per a SPOTV report, writes the KBO’s Sung Min Kim (via Twitter).
Na was posted a month ago with the hopes of catching on with a Major League club. As a corner outfielder, Na already faced a steep competitive field that offers a fair swath of alternative options, but a knee injury suffered in 2019 and his age likely complicated his market. Still, he hit .324/.390/.596 for the Dinos in 2020 with 34 home runs, 25.3 percent strikeout rate, and 8.3 percent walk rate. The strikeout and walk rates likely did not work in Na’s favor, but the power is compelling.
The free agent market is an unforgiving one this offseason, however, and it might be that Na was too uncertain an asset for interested teams. The 30-day posting period also likely worked against him given the glacial pace of free agency. Ultimately, agent Scott Boras was unable to find a deal. As we saw recently with Tomoyuki Sugano, Na is not the only overseas star to face a less-welcoming financial landscape than expected. Na will now will return to the Dinos for a ninth season. He will, however, be a free agent again after 2021, notes Kim, at which point he could pursue the possibility of jumping to MLB again.
“Did you find a contract that you liked?”
“Na”
Teams thought he was some Bum
Apparently a lot of teams sung that song.
Na
He didn’t really fit on any clubs and without a guaranteed DH in the NL Na getting a contract seemed unlikely from the start.
even with the DH in the NL the lack of ability to play elsewhere would’ve hurt him.
Hello TC,
Can you fix the grammer? Please & thank you, that would be great.
“Na “will now will” return to the Dinos for a ninth season”.
TC never fixes mistakes in his articles. And it’s “grammar”, not “grammer”. :)
Really compelling when you spell grammar incorrectly and use “&”
It’s not a grammar mistake. It’s just a mistake. Did it really scar you that badly?
Na na na na
Na na na na
No Sung Bum
For You…..
If he could get somewhat similar money in South Korea and not have to deal with all of the headaches currently going on in the US (political, COVID, etc; US has had 22 million COVID cases compared to SK’s 68,000), it’s a no-brainer to stay where he is.
Too many corner OF/DH types with proven MLB track records sitting in free agency already and none come with a posting fee.
I wonder what laughable deal Boras was pushing for.
That was going to be my comment. I’m guessing Boras was looking for somewhere in the 10year 250million range
3 years, $210 million, and a 50% ownership stake
Another Non Event !!
Dear foreign players,
We have no money right now.
Signed, MLB
“Heard the Jays would sign everyone”~Friend
“Na, they couldn’t even get Sung-Bum”~Fan
“Oh, who did they get than?”~Friend
“Some BUM!”~Fan
#truth
Who needs that bum anyway?
Dinos are going to repeat!!!
I think the recent signings of Tanaka, Tsutsugo, Akiyama, all put a bad taste in The mouths of MLB teams. They just haven’t lived up to the hype.
Bum would for sure leave a bad taste in your mouth, at least until you brushed your teeth