The SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced a one-year contract with right-hander Drew VerHagen for the 2026 season. VerHagen will earn $800K in guaranteed money ($750K salary, $50K signing bonus) and another $100K is available to the 35-year-old righty in contract incentives.
A veteran of eight Major League seasons, VerHagen has a 4.98 ERA over 281 2/3 innings with the Tigers (from 2014-19) and Cardinals (2022-23), working primarily as a long reliever with a few spot starts. He also has a significant amount of experience pitching in Japan, as VerHagen pitched with the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball during both the 2020-21 seasons and then again over the last two seasons.
Overall, VerHagen has a 3.68 ERA, 23.7% strikeout rate, and 6.65% walk rate in 283 1/3 innings with the Fighters. His most recent season, however, was his least-successful in NPB. VerHagen delivered only a 6.08 ERA over 26 2/3 frames with the Fighters in 2025, and spent the bulk of the season with the Fighters’ minor league affiliate.
VerHagen will now look to turn the page in a new league and a new country. He’ll take up one of the Fighters’ allotted roster spots for foreign-born pitchers, essentially replacing Drew Anderson (who is returning to MLB on a one-year deal with Detroit).
Players, especially those that can’t seem to break into the show are taking guaranteed money to play in asia. With clubs getting cost conscien
ce this makes sense.
So, SSG will not re-sign Mitch White?
No
Throws hard but leaves his pitches right down the middle of the plate. MLB hitters crush that. Maybe he fares better in a new league.
I don’t want to start a political debate, but I am curious about the income tax situation for these American players who sign oversees. Do they pay taxes to the U.S. on their salary? Do they pay taxes to the host country, and if so how much? Do they get to pocket more money from an 800K contract here, or in Korea or Japan? Do we have any tax/finance experts who would know?
it’s a fair question.
They have to pay taxes in the US even though they play in Japan/Korea/Taiwan.
The US is only 1 of 2 countries that require people to pay taxes for their country even if they don’t live/work there.
But they dont have to pay the jock tax since they are not traveling across the country playing baseball
The path has clearly been set. Not cutting it at MLB? Show you can play in the NPB or KBO, then swing back around. It’s a sound plan as generally both leagues are considered better than AAA.
His average fastball velocity was 93 MPH last year in NPB so he should be able to do well as long as he can stay healthy