The Korea Herald

소아쌤

SK Wyverns accept $2m bid for Kim

By Korea Herald

Published : Nov. 12, 2014 - 20:11

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The South Korean baseball club SK Wyverns announced Wednesday they have accepted a $2 million bid for their posted left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun.

Yonhap learned earlier in the day that the San Diego Padres had won the bidding war for the pitcher in a silent auction among Major League Baseball clubs, after the Wyverns posted him for interested big league teams earlier this month.

With the Wyverns’ decision, the Padres have 30 days in which to negotiate a contract with the 26-year-old pitcher.

If the two sides come to an agreement, the Wyverns will pocket the money submitted in the bid. If not, Kim will be off the market and will have to return to the Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization.

The Wyverns were first informed of the result of the bidding on Tuesday. They were said to be so disappointed with the amount of the winning bid that team officials said they would take their time before deciding whether to accept the bid.

Had the Wyverns rejected it, Kim would have had to remain with the Wyverns for 2015.

Kim thanked the Wyverns for giving him the opportunity.

“Now that I’ve been given a chance to try to reach the majors, which has been my lifelong dream, I’ll try to make the best of the situation and prove myself on the biggest stage,” Kim said through the team. “I will go back to the drawing board and prepare the best I can.”

The KBO had earlier asked the Wyverns to make their decision by 6 p.m. Friday, so that it can inform MLB of that decision by 7 a.m. Saturday, Korean time.

Kim completed the equivalent of seven full seasons in 2014 to earn conditional free agency, a status that allows KBO players to test overseas markets with their team’s approval.

Before the start of the 2014 season, Kim had said he’d like to be posted for MLB clubs this winter. The Wyverns granted Kim his wish and announced at a press conference last month that they would post Kim.

The Wyverns also said they would accept a bid from an MLB team only if they feel the money is right, without specifying how much they were looking for. (Yonhap)