Padres Speed Up Process With Pitcher Kim Kwang-Hyun

Per The Chosun IIbo, a news source from Korea and PadresInDepth on twitter, Pitcher Kim Kwang-Hyun has left for San Diego today so the Padres can speed up the negotiating process and to possibly sign Kim within a week. The Padres won a bid to negotiate with 26-year-old left-handed Kim for $2 million recently, and have until 2 P.M. PST on December 11th to sign him. If they fail in their attempts, the team gets their bid money returned, and Kim will remain in Korea until he is next eligible to post.

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This is a good sign, considering the Padres have a ton of needs now after non-tendering Everth Cabrera. It would be one less position to worry about. Kim is looked at as filling a left-handed reliever role or a possible fifth starter in the Padres rotation if and when a starting pitcher will be dealt later this off-season to acquire a capable bat in the lineup. For now, the Padres have Alexi Amarista at the shortstop position. Amarista has earned it, but don’t expect him to be a starter though come spring training.