*Photo from Redbird Rants*
It appears that Kwang-Hyun Kim's major league experience is over. According to Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency, Kim is signing a 4 year, $12.3 million deal with the SSG Landers of the Korean Baseball Organization, his former team.
There had been reports that the Landers, formerly known as the SK Wyverns, had issued a status check to Kim, which means that they were interested in bringing him back. After that, Kim and the Landers were able to agree on a deal rather quickly, effectively ending his MLB career, as he is 33 years old. His contract expires at age 37.
Last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, his second in MLB, Kim finished with a 7-7 record with a 3.46 ERA, hurling 106 2/3 innings across 21 starts and 6 relief appearances, being bumped to the bullpen at the end of the season. In two big league seasons, Kim has a 10-7 record with a 2.97 ERA in 28 starts and 7 relief appearances.
The case of Kim going back to the KBO is the first case of a prominent MLB player heading overseas during the lockout, all but ending his major league career. Bryce Harper had joked around a bit, posting a photo edit of him in a Tokyo Giants jersey, but Kim departing is the first notable player casualty during the lockout.
Kim returns to the KBO, where he joins former MLB'ers Ivan Nova and Wilmer Font on the Landers roster. The Cardinals pitching depth is still pretty strong, with Adam Wainwright, Steven Matz, Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas entrenched in the rotation, with Dakota Hudson and Jake Woodford competing for the 5th spot.
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