The SSG Landers of the KBO League announced that they have signed left-hander Roenis Elías, hat tip to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net. Elías will take the roster spot of fellow lefty Enny Romero and make a salary of $540K. Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News had previously reported that these moves were close.
Elias, 34, has made 133 major league appearances dating back to the 2014 season, spending time with the Mariners, Red Sox and Nationals. He has a 3.96 ERA in 395 2/3 career innings, striking out 19.6% of batters faced, walking 9% and getting grounders at a 42% clip.
The lefty signed a minor league deal with the Cubs this winter but didn’t make the club out of camp. He made four starts in Triple-A this year, posting a 5.48 ERA, but will now get a chance to test himself overseas, earning a larger salary than he would have garnered if he stayed in the minors.
He’ll take the place of Romero, who signed with the Landers back in December. However, he injured his shoulder back in March, per Kurtz, and hasn’t pitched in an official game yet this season. KBO teams can only carry two foreign pitchers on their roster and the Landers have one spot taken by Kirk McCarty. Romero’s unfortunate injury will open the door for Elías to get an opportunity.
These (points finger for emphasis) are the kind of alerts I need on my cell-phone.
This is ‘interrupt the board-meeting stuff.
Guess he did have a May 1 opt out after all.
Not sure he did. Didn’t the Cubs received cash? If there was an opt out, he just signs, without compensation for the Cubs, right?
I’m pretty sure the Cubs get nothing. Vets can often just opt out of Minor League deals just about anytime they want I think. Besides, What would you want from the Koreans? Player? A million yen or whatever. What’s that 20 bucks American? LOL
Maybe a 2017 Kia Rio.
If the player was under contract, I thought it was nominal fee, like $50K to have the player released.
I’m surprised his WBC participation isn’t included in this article. I thought that’s what got him an offer from any team.