2020-21 International Players posting period coming to a quick close...

[Kinsm]

The foreign posting systems are set up to allow foreign players who are already under team control to move to the states and try their hand at Major League Baseball, their original teams would in-turn receive compensation for allowing their players release. If a player, who is posted, fails to come to agreement with a MLB club they stay under contract with their initial club.

The KBO posting period ran from November 10th through December 14th; so all players that would have been eligible to be posted will have done so by now. The last possible negotiation day would then be January 9th for any player posted on the final day of that window (sooner for those players posted earlier in the period).

The NPB posting period ran from November 22nd through December 12th; so all players that would have been eligible to be posted will have done so by now. The last possible negotiation day would then be January 11th for any player posted on the final day of the window (sooner for those players posted earlier in the period).

MLB clubs who sign a player via the KBO or NPB posting system are on the hook to pay a separate release fee to the player's KBO or NPB team, in addition to their newly negotiated contract. The fee is equal to 20 percent of the player's first $25 million in guaranteed salary, 17.5 percent of the next $25 million and 15 percent of any amount beyond $50 million.

22 South Korean-born players have debuted in the major leagues, beginning with Chan Ho Park back in 1994. (doesn't include players that were born in South Korea to American parents or players with Korean ancestry who grew up in the United States)

61 Japanese-born players have debuted in the major leagues, beginning with Masanori Murakami back in 1964. (doesn't include players that were born in Japan to American parents or players with Japanese ancestry who grew up in the United States)



The following players, who played 2020 in the KBO or NPB have been posted this winter:


---31 year old, Korean, Righfielder, Sung-Bum Na

He was posted on December 9th, negotiation window 30 days (agent Scott Boras)

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=na----000sun


---25 year old, Korean, Shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim

He was posted on December 7th, negotiation window 30 days

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=kim---001ha-


---31 year old, Japanese, Right-handed Starting Pitcher, Tomoyuki Sugano

He was posted on December 8th, negotiation window 30 days

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=sugano001tom


---29 year old, Japanese, Rightfielder/SecondBaseman, Haruki Nishikawa

He was posted on December 4th, negotiation window 30 days

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=nishik000har


---28 year old, Japanese, Right-handed Starting Pitcher, Kohei Arihara

He was posted on November 26th, negotiation window 30 days

https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=arihar000koh

[M2]

I'd want Sung-Bum Na on the team just for name value. If Nishikawa would make a functional bench player, the Reds might want to give their first-ever Japanese signing some company.

[Kinsm]

In related news, NPB's Cuban born 1B/OF/P Oscar Colas was officially declared a Free Agent on December 2nd.

You may remember the name, back on May 10, 2017, the Government of Cuba signed a contract (for the first time ever) to dispatch Colas and Liván Moinelo to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as developmental squad players.

Colas then defected from Cuba on January 3rd, 2020. (the 25 year old reliever Moinelo is still with Softbank)

That declaration by NPB ended months of controversy between the club, Nippon Professional Baseball, and Colas’ representatives over amount of team control the Hawks held over Colas as per the terms of his original contract.

Since Colas is only 22 and has not yet played in six foreign league seasons he would be considered an IFA signee to MLB clubs and be subject to spending caps via teams' bonus pools.

If he chooses to sign with an MLB club (he could re-sign in NPB or even the KBO if he desires), he will first have to file an application with the league office (pretty safe to assume he's already done this). Once that is granted, he'll be eligible to sign when the next international signing window opens on January 5th (remember, this year's signing period was pushed back from July 2nd of 2020).

He'll likely be showcased to foreign and domestic scouts in the next month or so.

[Kinsm]

I'd want Sung-Bum Na on the team just for name value. If Nishikawa would make a functional bench player, the Reds might want to give their first-ever Japanese signing some company.

If Kim can play SS in the states the Reds need to be in on those talks right now.

Next year when Seiya Suzuki gets posted, then the Reds can sign their second-ever Japanese born player.

[JaxRed]

Would like to see us make a run on Colas.

[Shoeless Jeff]

Would like to see us make a run on Colas.

I don't think that is a good idea. Too much caffeine.

[M2]

Undervalued.

[Kinsm]

In related news, NPB's Cuban born 1B/OF/P Oscar Colas was officially declared a Free Agent on December 2nd.



That declaration by NPB ended months of controversy between the club, Nippon Professional Baseball, and Colas’ representatives over amount of team control the Hawks held over Colas as per the terms of his original contract.

Since Colas is only 22 and has not yet played in six foreign league seasons he would be considered an IFA signee to MLB clubs and be subject to spending caps via teams' bonus pools.

If he chooses to sign with an MLB club (he could re-sign in NPB or even the KBO if he desires), he will first have to file an application with the league office (pretty safe to assume he's already done this). Once that is granted, he'll be eligible to sign when the next international signing window opens on January 5th (remember, this year's signing period was pushed back from July 2nd of 2020).

He'll likely be showcased to foreign and domestic scouts in the next month or so.

Major League Baseball has declared outfielder/pitcher Oscar Colas a free agent, reports MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (via Twitter).

[Kinsm]

The following players, who played 2020 in the KBO or NPB have been posted this winter:


---31 year old, Korean, Righfielder, Sung-Bum Na

---31 year old, Japanese, Right-handed Starting Pitcher, Tomoyuki Sugano

---25 year old, Korean, Shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim

---29 year old, Japanese, Rightfielder/SecondBaseman, Haruki Nishikawa

---28 year old, Japanese, Right-handed Starting Pitcher, Kohei Arihara

UPDATE:


Sung-Bum Na's and Tomoyuki Sugano's respective negotiation window with MLB's 30 clubs ends later this week.

---The rumor-mill has been very quiet in relation to Na, his initial posting was delayed a few days because MLB requested additional medical reports on his knees.

---The Giants, Mets, Red Sox, Padres, Blue Jays, and Rangers have been linked to Sugano, it's expected that the Japanese hurler will sign to play in the states next season.

Ha-Seong Kim signed with the San Diego Padres, he received a four year contract that will pay him a minimum of 28M$. The contract comes with an additional 4M$ in plate appearance incentives, and a 5th year mutual option. Additionally, the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO will receive a minimum of 5.525M$ via a posting fee from San Diego (that fee will rise if incentives are reached or the mutual option is exercised 46 months from now).

Haruki Nishikawa failed to come to terms with an MLB team (either not receiving any offers or at least not one that he liked), he'll return to play with his current NPB club.

Kohei Arihara signed with the Texas Rangers, he received a two year contract that will pay him 2.6M$ in 2021 and $3.6M$ in 2022. Additionally, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the NPB will receive a 1.24M$ posting fee from Texas.


***In addition to the posted players above,

---KBO Free Agent lefthanded pitcher Hyeon-jong Yang is exploring offers from MLB teams this winter. Yang, who like his fellow countryman Kwang-hyun Kim (who would later sign as a FA with the St. Louis Cardinals) was previously posted six years ago via the KBO system but failed to come too agreement with an MLB club and stayed in Korea finishing out his contract.

Entering his age 33 season, Yang is coming off a mediocre season and is likely to struggle to find an enticing offer from a down-revenue MLB club in the coming weeks.

---NPB Free Agent lefthanded pitcher Yudai Ohno has decided to stay in Japan, he signed a multi-year extension with the Chunichi Dragons, he was rumored to be interested in playing with an MLB club next season.

[Kinsm]

FINAL UPDATE:

Sugano and Na both failed to sign with an MLB club and will return to their respective NPB and KBO teams.

-Sugano signed a new contract with his NPB team that will make him the highest paid player in Japan, the contract comes with opt-outs after each of the next 3 seasons so that he can test the MLB market again - in which case there would be no posting fee.

[Kinsm]

YONHAP---

With a big league deal in tow, South Korean baseball star Kim Ha-seong will train with his former Seoul-based club early next month to prepare for the new season.

Kim, who signed a four-year contract with the San Diego Padres on New Year's Eve, completed his 14-day quarantine Saturday after arriving back in South Korea earlier this month. He then visited with his former Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club, Kiwoom Heroes, on Monday.

Kim Ha-seong is expected to leave for the United States around Feb. 8, and he asked the Heroes if he could train with them for a few days during their spring training, which starts on Feb. 1.

They will be training at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Kim's former stomping ground. And the GM said the Heroes will offer their former slugger as much support as they could.