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3 KBO Players Yankees Could Target in Free Agency

By Steven Kubitza

Jae-hwan Kim is a KBO player for the New York Yankees to target.
Jae-hwan Kim is a KBO player for the New York Yankees to target. / Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

The New York Yankees are an organization that has been known to sign talent from abroad. The Yankees, along with every other MLB team, should be closely watching the KBO now that it is on ESPN to evaluate the top players in the league. There are three individuals who stand out right now as players the Yankees should try to sign in international free agency. With more exposure, we could see more leaps than ever this year!

3. Hyeon-jong Yang

Hyeon-jong Yang is a top pitcher in KBO.
Hyeon-jong Yang is a top pitcher in KBO. / Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

Hyeon-jong Yang is a left-handed pitcher for the Kia Tigers. He just turned 32 years old, and could be a nice addition in the Bronx at the end of his career. Yang has a career 3.76 ERA and 136 career wins since debuting in 2007. He was the league's MVP in 2017, and has had at least 146 strikeouts in every season since 2014. Yang is up there in age, but would provide a veteran presence to the back end of the Yankees rotation when posted.

2. Chang-mo Koo

Chang-mo Koo is a young left-handed pitcher for the NC Dinos. He is only 23 years old and recently went 10-7 in 19 starts last season with a 3.20 ERA. Koo's youth makes him an intriguing prospect who has worked both out of the bullpen and as a starer. He averages over 100 strikeouts per season and has a career K/9 of 8.8. Getting him to New York could help the team develop a top-tier starter who doesn't need much time in the minors.

1. Jae-hwan Kim

Jae-hwan Kim is a veteran slugger in KBO.
Jae-hwan Kim is a veteran slugger in KBO. / Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

Jae-hwan Kim was posted for MLB teams this past offseason and did not get signed. That could lower his value a bit, and allow the Yankees to sign the veteran outfielder and lefty masher after a prove-it 2020 season with far more exposure. Kim has a career slash line of .307/.388/.555 and has 145 career home runs. 116 of those came in three years from 2016-2018. He primarily plays in left field, but could also slot in at first base or as the designated hitter. Taking a flyer on him next offseason would not hurt, given his display of power in the recent past. The Yanks already let Japanese lefty slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo; they'd best not whiff twice.