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Kia Tigers informed of highest MLB bidder for posted pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong

All News 12:14 November 22, 2014

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball club Kia Tigers have been informed of the highest bid submitted by a Major League Baseball (MLB) club for their posted pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, officials here said Saturday.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said it was told by MLB earlier in the day that a yet-to-be-identified big league club won the bidding war for the South Korean left-hander and that it has relayed the information to the Tigers.

The amount of the bid has not been disclosed. The Tigers have four business days in which to accept the bid.

The KBO said it plans to inform MLB of the Tigers' decision by 7 a.m. next Friday (Seoul time).

If the Tigers accept it, the MLB club will earn the exclusive right to negotiate with Yang for 30 days. Should the two sides reach a contract, then the Tigers will pocket the money submitted in the bid for the pitcher.

If the Tigers reject the bid, Yang will have to wait until Nov. 1 next year to be posted for MLB teams again.

Also, if he enters negotiations with the MLB team but fails to sign a contract, Yang cannot be posted again until Nov. 1, 2015.

An official with the Tigers said the team has spoken with Yang about the bid and that it will reach its decision as quickly as possible.

"We have to talk a bit more with the player," the official added. "It won't be an easy decision to make."

The Tigers had earlier said they would accept the bid of "a reasonable amount," without specifying the monetary figure.

Yang is the second KBO player to be posted this offseason, after SK Wyverns' left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun. The San Diego Padres bid US$2 million for the right to talk to Kim, and the two have until Dec. 11 to work out an agreement.

In 2014, Yang went 16-8 with a 4.25 ERA in 29 starts, spanning a career-high 171 1/3 innings. He struck out 165 and walked 77.

He was named the inaugural winner of the Choi Dong-won Award, named after a late former All-Star pitcher to recognize the best South Korean pitcher each season based on their win-loss records, quality starts and innings pitched, among other categories.

A third player from the KBO, Nexen Heroes' shortstop Kang Jung-ho, has said he will likely ask his current team to post him by mid-December.

So far, Ryu Hyun-jin, left-handed starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, remains the only South Korean to make the jump from the KBO to the majors via posting.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)

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