Report: Korean star pitcher Kim drawing interest from 5 teams
Kwang-Hyun Kim is receiving interest from the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs after SK Wyverns posted him on Friday, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
This isn't the first time the Korean left-hander has explored a major-league deal. The San Diego Padres won the right to negotiate with him in 2014 after bidding $2 million for Kim's posting fee. However, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
The 31-year-old is the first Korean Baseball Organization player posted under a new system that doesn't require a blind auction, according to Yonhap News Agency's Yoo Jee-ho. If Kim signs a major-league deal, the size of the transfer to his Korean team will depend on the value of the contract.
Kim has put up solid numbers in the KBO for 12 years. He owns a career 136-77 record with a 3.27 ERA, and most recently produced a 17-win season with a 2.51 ERA in 2019.
Three Korean players signed under the old system: Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers, 2012), Jung Ho Kang (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2015), and ByungHo Park (Minnesota Twins, 2015).