Published : Jan. 18, 2015 - 20:53
Pittsburgh infielder Kang Jung-ho (Yonhap)
Pittsburgh infielder Kang Jung-ho. (Yonhap)
PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Even though the Pittsburgh Pirates employ one of the largest analytics departments in baseball, they are not exactly sure how Kang Jung-ho’s outstanding statistics in South Korea will translate to the major leagues.
They are willing to find out.
Pittsburgh and the 27-year-old infielder finalized an $11 million, four-year contract on a busy day for the Pirates. The deal includes a $5.5 million club option for 2019 with a $1 million buyout.
Meanwhile, closer Mark Melancon was among nine of the Pirates’ 12 players who filed for arbitration earlier this week and agreed to one-year contracts. The 29-year-old will make $5.4 million, more than double the $2,595,000 he earned last season when he converted 33 of 37 save opportunities and had a 1.90 ERA in 72 games.
Joining Melancon in agreeing to one-year deals were left-handed relievers Antonio Bastardo ($3.1 million) and Tony Watson ($1.75 million); right-handed reliever Jared Hughes ($1,075,000); catchers Chris Stewart ($1,225,000) and Francisco Cervelli ($987,500); third baseman Josh Harrison ($2.8 million); infielder Sean Rodriguez ($1.9 million); and outfielder Travis Snider ($2.1 million).
The Pirates were unable to reach terms with right-hander Vance Worley, first baseman Pedro Alvarez and second baseman Neil Walker and the sides exchanged arbitration figures. If management sticks to its intended plan of refusing to negotiate now that figures have been filed, then the three players will end up in hearings in February.
Kang is trying to become the first position player to make the jump from the Korean Baseball Organization to the major leagues.
“This is an unprecedented situation, so it’s difficult to truly project how he will perform,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. “That is why we had multiple people watch him play multiple times. We feel good about bringing him into our organization and we feel that this is going to be a very good investment for our organization.”
The Pirates will pay a $5,002,015 posting fee for Kang.
“I’m very excited and humbled by this opportunity,” he said in a statement released by the Pirates.
Most of the ballparks in South Korea are smaller than in the major leagues. The Pirates, however, believe Kang will hit for power.
“He hit a lot of balls in Korea that would have been out of the ballparks in the major leagues, too,” Huntington said. “What we really like about him is that he has a good overall approach to hitting.”