Unable to reach an agreement with SD, Kim Kwang-hyun goes back to SK

December 11, 2014
Kim Kwang-hyun (NEWSis)

Kim Kwang-hyun (NEWSis)

Kim Kwang-hyun will not be pitching in the U.S. next year.  The 26-year-old South Korean left-hander has failed to reach an agreement with the San Diego Padres, Kim’s South Korean club announced on Thursday.

The SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said  Kim will stay at home at least for another season, after he was unable to strike a deal with the Major League Baseball (MLB) club.

The Wyverns posted Kim in early November and the Padres submitted the highest bid for Kim $2 million. They had 30 days to negotiate a deal with Kim and the deadline fell on 2 p.m. Thursday in San Diego.

The Wyverns said they weren’t too pleased with the amount of the winning bid but accepted it to help Kim realize his dream of pitching in the majors.

However, since the Padres and Kim failed to reach an agreement, the Wyverns won’t get to keep that $2 million submitted in the bid.

The Wyverns may choose to post Kim again after next season. If Kim pitches two more seasons in the KBO, he will become an unrestricted free agent, a status that will allow him to sign with an MLB club without going through posting.