Pirates Win Negotiating Rights to Korean Shortstop Jung-Ho Kang
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Brian D. Kersey/Getty Images(PITTSBURGH) — Already having one of the best offenses in baseball, the Pittsburgh Pirates are taking a shot on an international player as they have won the negotiating rights to Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang.
The Pirates now have 30 days to negotiate a contract with the international star, or he’ll head back to Korea. If a deal is reached, the Pirates will pay the Nexen Heroes the posting fee of $5,002,015.
“The Pirates are pleased to have secured the opportunity to attempt to add Kang, Jung Ho to our system and look forward to commencing discussions with the player and his representative in an effort to make that happen,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement.
The 27-year-old Kang hit .354 with 39 home runs this past season for the Heroes, and was named the MVP of the Korean Baseball Organization.
The Pirates are hoping Kang can provide some infield depth for the club behind second baseman Neil Walker and shortstop Jordy Mercer.
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