Yankees Rumors: Yang Hyeon-Jong Posts, Team Could Have Interest

According to a report from the NY Daily News, the best pitcher in the Korean Baseball Organization is ready to throw is hat into the ring and give the big leagues a try. Yang Hyeon-Jong, a lefty who hits 92-95 on the radar gun, has been posted, and according to the Daily News’ Mark Feinsand, teams have until 5 p.m. ET today to place a bid for exclusive negotiating rights.

Jong posted a record of 16-8, with an ERA of 4.25 in 28 starts during this past season. The ERA according to Feinsand, is about half a run lower than the league average, as the KBO is comparable hitting-wise, to the U.S. Pacific Coast League in Triple-A. The last impact arm to come from Korea, was Hyun-jin Ryu, who has had two solid seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. When he posted, L.A. won rights to negotiate, and signed him to a $36 million dollar deal after kicking up more than $20 mil just to speak with him. 

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The 26-year-old lefty is viewed by scouts who have seen him as a solid number three starter at the big league level, with the potential to be a number two. With reports that the Yankees are going to sidestep pursuing Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields in free agency this winter, Jong may be the perfect, affordable fit for the Yankees.

If the Yankees were to win bidding rights with Jong, who has two years remaining on his current Korean contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent, would have 30 days to negotiate with Jong, similar to the time frame teams get when pitchers from Japan are posted. Unlike the new posting system in Japan, there is no cap, so the Korean system is how the Japanese posting system used to be prior to changes being made during the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes last winter.