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Niko Goodrum Signs With KBO’s Lotte Giants

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Veteran infielder/outfielder Niko Goodrum, who opted out of a deal with the Red Sox last week, has signed with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization, the team announced (link via Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency). He’ll be paid $400K for the remainder of the season. Goodrum, a client of Roc Nation Sports, will take the roster spot of former Dodgers and Rangers outfielder Zach Reks, who was cut loose after a knee injury tanked his 2023 season.

The 31-year-old Goodrum is a veteran of six Major League seasons who debuted with the Twins back in 2017. The switch-hitter has since spent time in Detroit and Houston, logging a combined .226/.299/.389 batting line in 1531 plate appearances between the three teams. The versatile Goodrum was particularly productive in 2018-19, when he played all four infield positions and all three outfield positions for the Tigers while posting a combined .247/.318/.427 slash with 28 homers and 24 steals in 964 plate appearances.

Goodrum’s 2023 season with the Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate in Worcester was excellent. In 286 trips to the plate, he batted .280/.448/.440 with eight home runs, seven steals and a staggering 23.1% walk rate. Statcast credits Goodrum as a plus defender at both middle infield positions and a passable option in the outfield as well.

With a strong showing in the KBO, it’s possible Goodrum could sign on for another season in South Korea or perhaps head to Japan’s NPB. He’d have seven-figure earning power in either league, though it’s also possible he’ll look to parlay this year’s strong Triple-A showing and a (hopefully) similar level of production in the KBO into a guaranteed big league deal as a free agent next winter.

As for the 29-year-old Reks, he joined the Giants last year as a midseason replacement much as Goodrum is doing now. The 2017 tenth-rounder (Dodgers) hit .330/.410/.495 in 56 games and 251 plate appearances down the stretch, earning himself a $1.2MM guarantee to return ($1MM salary plus $200K signing bonus), but this year’s knee injury left him with a tepid .246/.338/.345 output in a similar sample size to his 2022 showing. Reks is a career .290/.388/.537 hitter in parts of three Triple-A seasons but has only received 44 plate appearances at the MLB level.

KBO’s Kia Tigers Sign Thomas Pannone, Place Shaun Anderson On Waivers

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The Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced that they have signed left-hander Thomas Pannone, with right-hander Shaun Anderson placed on waivers in a corresponding move. Hat tip to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net.

Pannone, now 29, was with the Kia Tigers for the second half of last season. He tossed 82 2/3 innings over 14 starts with a 2.72 ERA. He struck out 21% of batters faced while walking 6.9% of them. This winter, he returned to North America and signed a minor league deal with the Brewers. He reported to their Triple-A club and threw 53 1/3 innings over 11 appearances with a 2.70 ERA in that time.

That solid performance got him selected to the big league roster a week ago but he was designated for assignment after just one appearance of 2 2/3 innings. He was released yesterday and will now rejoin the Kia Tigers. He previously played in the majors with the Blue Jays in 2018 and 2019. When combined with his lone outing this year, he has a 5.46 ERA in 118 2/3 innings over 50 major league contests.

KBO teams are only allowed three roster spots for non-Korean players, so Pannone’s signing had to come with a corresponding move. That will be Anderson, 28, who signed with the Tigers in the winter. He made 14 starts this year, tossing 79 innings with a 3.76 ERA. He only struck out 19% of opponents but kept the ball on the ground at a 61.7% rate. Despite those fairly solid results, the Tigers will opt to give Pannone a try and have let Anderson go.

KBO’s Kia Tigers Release Adonis Medina, Sign Mario Sanchez

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The Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization have released right-hander Adonis Medina, per Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency. Right-hander Mario Sanchez will replace Medina, per CPBL Stats.

Medina, 26, pitched in 10 MLB games over the 2020-2022 period with the Phillies and Mets. He had a 5.35 ERA in that time and was outrighted off the Mets’ roster in September. He headed to Korea this year to join the Tigers but it didn’t go especially well. He posted a 6.05 ERA in 58 innings over 12 starts. He struck out just 13.9% of batters faced while walking 10.8%. KBO teams are only allowed three roster spots for non-Korean players and the Tigers have apparently decided to go in a different direction with one of theirs.

Sanchez, 28, will be the beneficiary of the move. He began the year with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League of Taiwan. He made 10 appearances for the Lions, nine starts, with a 1.44 ERA in 62 2/3 innings. He only struck out 17.4% of opponents but kept his walks down to a tiny 4.6% rate. Those strong results will get him an opportunity to showcase himself in the KBO.

Sanchez doesn’t have major league experience but did spend many years in affiliated ball. Initially a prospect with the Nationals, he went to the Phillies as the played to be named later in the 2016 trade that sent Jimmy Cordero to Washington. He never made it past Double-A with the Phils, then returned to the Nats in a minor league capacity. He topped out at Triple-A with the Nats and also the Twins in recent years before heading to Taiwan this season.

KBO’s Hanwha Eagles Sign Nick Williams

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The Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League have signed outfielder Nick Williams (hat tip to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net).  Williams will receive $250K in guaranteed salary and a $150K signing bonus, plus another $50K is available in incentives.

Williams is no stranger to international baseball, having played with Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League in each of the last two seasons.  His last stint in affiliated ball came in 2021 with Triple-A Charlotte before the White Sox released him.  A regular on top-100 prospect lists during his time in the Rangers and Phillies farm systems, Williams was one of six players dealt from Texas to Philadelphia as part of the Cole Hamels trade in July 2015.

All but four of Williams’ 294 career MLB games came in a Phillies uniform, and while his career got off to a quality start (.288/.338/.473 in 343 plate appearances) in 2017, Williams was a little less productive in 2018 and then his numbers badly tailed off in 2019 and he spent much of the season at Triple-A.  The Reds claimed Williams off waivers in 2020 but designated him for assignment before the season was over, and Williams then caught on with the White Sox on a minor league deal that offseason.

Still only 29 years old, Williams will look to South Korea as the next stop in his career.  He has posted big numbers in the Mexican League, hitting .346/.431/.646 over 583 PA with Tijuana.  That could bode well for Williams’ chances in the hitter-friendly KBO League, and another big performance could earn him continued contracts overseas or perhaps another look from a Major League club.

KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes Release Eric Jokisch, Sign Ian McKinney

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The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization have released right-hander Eric Jokisch and signed left-hander Ian McKinney, per Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net (Twitter links). Kurtz adds that Jokisch was diagnosed with a partial tear in left abductor muscle and was set to miss six weeks. KBO teams are only allowed three roster spots for non-Korean players, so they have decided to quickly make this switch instead of waiting for Jokisch to recover.

Jokisch, 33, pitched 14 1/3 innings for the Cubs in 2014, which is the full extent of his major league experience. He has a far lengthier track record in the KBO, as this is the fifth season in which he’s pitched for the Heroes. He’s made 130 starts dating back to the 2019 season, with a 2.85 ERA in 773 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate has been in the 17-21% range for most of those seasons but he’s succeeded by reliably getting ground balls on over two thirds of balls in play.

That success has repeatedly led to him and the Heroes continuing their relationship, though it will now be severed by this injury, as the club will use the roster spot to add McKinney. The left-hander, now 28, was a fifth-round selection of the Cardinals in 2013. He was released in 2018 after topping out at Double-A. He later signed with the Mariners and made it as far as Triple-A in that organization but never made it to the majors.

In addition to that affiliated work, he’s also pitched for independent clubs, including this year. He’s made eight starts for the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League here in 2023, posting a 4.24 ERA in 46 2/3 innings, striking out 53 opponents while walking 11.

Jokisch will now be free to pursue other opportunities, though he may have to rehab from his injury first. His success in Korea led to some interest from MLB clubs prior to the 2021 season, though he ultimately stayed with the Heroes.

William Cuevas Signs With KBO’s KT Wiz

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The KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization have signed right-hander William Cuevas, the team announced (h/t to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net). He’ll receive a $450K salary. In a corresponding move, the Wiz released righty Beau Sulser.

Cuevas, who pitched in the majors between 2016-18, had been in Triple-A with the Dodgers after signing a minor league deal in April. He started nine of 11 appearances for their Oklahoma City affiliate, working to a 6.14 ERA through 44 frames. Cuevas had a decent 22.1% strikeout rate but struggled with home runs in the difficult Pacific Coast League setting. The Dodgers granted him his release yesterday, which Triple-A communications director Alex Freedman notes (on Twitter) coincides with the recent signing of veteran lefty Mike Montgomery to a non-roster deal.

While the jump from an American to an Asian professional league could lead to an adjustment for some players, Cuevas shouldn’t have much trouble getting acclimated. He signed with this same Wiz club leading into the 2019 season and spent three-plus years there. Cuevas was a reliable rotation fixture through 2021, helping them win the Korean Series during his third year. An elbow injury led the Wiz to let him go last May. Now that he’s healthy, they’ll bring him back to a familiar setting.

Sulser signed with the Wiz last November. The 29-year-old made nine starts but struggled to a 5.62 ERA through 49 2/3 innings. He struck out a fairly modest 15.8% of opponents against a quality 6.3% walk rate. The KBO club moved on quickly once the chance to reunite with Cuevas presented itself.

As a result, Sulser returns to the open market and could seek out minor league landing spots. He has ten games of major league experience, all coming last season between the Pirates and Orioles. Sulser has a 5.17 ERA over 179 1/3 frames at the Triple-A level.

KBO’s Hanwha Eagles Release Brian O’Grady

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The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization released first baseman/corner outfielder Brian O’Grady this week, as noted by Jee-ho Yoo of Yonhap News. He returns to free agency while the Eagles explore options for a new foreign-born player to take the vacated roster spot.

O’Grady signed with the Eagles over the winter. He struggled immensely in his limited work. O’Grady punched out 40 times against five walks in 86 plate appearances. He had only three extra-base hits (all doubles) and compiled a .125/.174/.163 batting line. With a limit of three foreign players on KBO rosters, the Eagles didn’t have much time to afford O’Grady a longer leash.

The Rutgers product has spent parts of three seasons in the majors. Between the Reds, Rays and Padres, he hit .184/.283/.388 in 62 games from 2019-21. He’s been much better at the Triple-A level, positing a .284/.362/.551 slash in just shy of 1000 plate appearances. O’Grady also spent a year in Japan with the Seibu Lions, putting up a .213/.312/.380 line in 2022.

Now that he’s a free agent, O’Grady could look for affiliated ball opportunities. He’d surely be limited to minor league offers given his KBO numbers but has a strong enough minor league track record to potentially attract teams looking for left-handed hitting depth.

Hanwha made a change on the pitching staff in April, signing Ricardo Sánchez while letting go of Burch Smith. Sánchez and right-hander Félix Peña are the two foreign players currently on the roster.

Roenis Elías Signs With KBO’s SSG Landers

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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.

KBO’s Hanwha Eagles Sign Ricardo Sanchez, Release Burch Smith

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The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization announced they’ve signed left-hander Ricardo Sánchez to a $400K contract (h/t to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News).He takes the roster spot of righty Burch Smith, who was released after suffering a strain in his throwing shoulder. Sánchez is a client of Beverly Hills Sports Council.

Sánchez, 26, has been with the White Sox after signing a minor league deal in February. The Venezuelan-born hurler has thrown 6 2/3 innings over three appearances at Triple-A Charlotte, allowing four runs. He’ll apparently be granted his release to pursue this opportunity in South Korea. The $400K guarantee is quite likely a notable jump over what he had been making in Triple-A.

The bulk of Sánchez’s professional experience has been spent in the minors. His MLB résumé consists of three outings for the Cardinals in 2020. He’s logged 123 innings at the Triple-A level, allowing just under five earned runs per nine. Sánchez has a slightly below-average 20.2% strikeout rate and a serviceable 8.2% walk percentage over that stretch.

Smith signed an $800K contract with the Eagles last winter. It didn’t pan out as either team or player had hoped thanks to injury. Smith only lasted into the third inning of his season debut before suffering the shoulder strain. It’s not uncommon for KBO teams to release foreign-born players who suffer an injury given the league’s limit of three foreign players per team. Félix Peña and Brian O’Grady are the Eagles’ other foreign players.

It’s a tough break for Smith, who seems likely to return to free agency. (According to Yoo, he’s presently on waivers.) The 33-year-old has pitched in parts of five big league campaigns. He owns a 6.03 ERA over 191 innings, mostly in relief. Smith’s last MLB action came in 2021, when he posted a 5.40 ERA over 43 1/3 frames for the Athletics.

Eric Thames Announces Retirement

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Veteran first baseman and outfielder Eric Thames took to Instagram yesterday to announce his retirement. “The day has finally come,” he says in the post. “In the year of our lord, twenty, twenty-three…HE GONE! I’ve been so blessed over these last 14 years to call baseball my job. The friendships that will last a lifetime, the memories that I’ll never shut up about (and those that I’m sworn to secrecy to take to my grave ).”

This announcement officially ends one of the more unique baseball careers, as Thames has spent the past few decades crisscrossing the globe. His professional baseball life began when the Blue Jays drafted him in 2008 out of Pepperdine University. He made his major league debut with the Jays in 2011 and performed well, hitting 12 home runs in 95 games. His batting line on the year was .262/.313/.456 for a wRC+ of 107, indicating he was 7% better than the league average hitter.

Things didn’t go as well the following year, as Thames hit .243/.288/.365 for the Jays and was optioned to the minors for a time. He was then traded to the Mariners in July for Steve Delabar, getting into 40 games with Seattle after that deal. In 2013, the Mariners kept Thames in the minors and eventually designated him for assignment. He was traded to the Orioles and then went to the Astros on a waiver claim, though neither team called him up to the big leagues.

Thames signed with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization for 2014, which transformed his career. After years of being on roster bubbles in North America, he emerged as a star in Korea. He hit 37 home runs for the Dinos that year and followed that up by hitting 47 and 40 in the next two seasons. His 2015 season stands out as being exceptionally impressive, as he also stole 40 bases and walked in 17.3% of his trips to the plate. His .381/.497/.790 batting line amounted to a 216 wRC+. He was crowned as the Most Valuable Player in the league that year.

After that strong three-year stretch with the Dinos, Thames returned to Major League Baseball, signing a three-year, $16MM deal with the Brewers. He was able to transfer a decent amount of his success from Korea to North America, as he hit 31 homers in 2017 while walking in 13.6% of his trips to the plate. His .247/.359/.518 batting line led to a 125 wRC+. Thumb surgery kept him out of action for a while in the following year, but he was still able to add another 16 home runs in 96 games, then hit another 25 in 2019. His three-year stretch in Milwaukee resulted in 72 long balls and a .241/.343/.504 batting line for a 118 wRC+. That last year saw the Brewers qualify for the Wild Card game against the Nationals. Thames went 2-4 in that game, including hitting a solo home run off Max Scherzer. But the Brewers ultimately lost 4-3 to the Nats, who would go on to win the World Series later that year, and that now goes down as the only MLB playoff game in which Thames played.

Despite that solid stretch, the Brewers surprisingly turned down a $7.5MM option on Thames for 2020 and went for the $1MM buyout instead. The Nationals scooped him up on a $4MM guarantee but he struggled in the pandemic-shortened season, hitting .203/.300/.317 with just three homers in 41 games. He signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball for 2021 but suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon after just one game with the club. He tried another return to the majors in 2022 by signing a minor league deal with the A’s, but struck out in 38% of his plate appearances in Triple-A and got released after 22 games.

In the end, it makes for quite a journey, with Thames having played for baseball teams all over the world. His major league career resulted in 96 home runs, 18 stolen bases, 451 hits, 286 runs scored and 235 driven in. But he’ll perhaps be best remembered by some fans for that magical three-year run in the KBO wherein he hit 124 home runs, stole 64 bases, scored 343 runs and drove in 382.

We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Thames on a fascinating and distinctive career, and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

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