MLB teams prepare for Ryu bids as posting starts

The Korea Baseball Organization announced yesterday that it will inform Major League Baseball of pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin’s posting today, as the 25-year-old left-handed ace’s plan to play in the United States gains traction.

According to a mutual agreement between the KBO and MLB, the U.S. baseball league is required to inform the 30 MLB clubs of the KBO posting within four days.

The ball clubs will then submit their offers to gain exclusive negotiating rights within days. MLB will inform the KBO of the team with the highest bid and the amount at that time.

The Hanwha Eagles will decide whether or not to accept the offer for its star pitcher within four days.

KBO officials said it will be clear as early as Nov. 11 whether Ryu and the Eagles will be willing to enter negotiations with a MLB club. The Eagles, who announced the plan to post Ryu on Monday, said they would only send the ace abroad if he gets the price tag “he deserves.”

The club said it has reached a consensus with Ryu on the kind of offer they deem fit for him. Bleacher Report, an American digital sports media network, said in a report yesterday that Ryu’s market price will be lower than that of Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers, but said “it’s reasonable to expect bidding for the left-hander to exceed $15 million.”

Under KBO rules, the posting can be exercised for players with seven years of experience in the domestic league. Full free agency rights are granted after nine years.

KBO officials said if the Eagles and Ryu enter into a negotiation, the results will come out within a month, meaning Ryu’s departure for the U.S. for next season will be decided before the end of this year.

Ryu was not listed on the roster for the Eagles’ training camp scheduled to start today.

By Moon Gwang-lip [joe@joongang.co.kr]