Kim Hyun-soo excluded from 25-member roster

Kim Hyun-soo of the Baltimore Orioles has been excluded from the 25-member roster of his team for the season’s opener after all. “Kim Hyun-soo will be excluded from the 25-membre roster, and Joey RicKard will take the main leftfielder role.” Baltimore’s general manager Dan Duquette told a local media on Tuesday. “There is a chance that Kim Hyun-soo will move to the Minor League. Kim will exert efforts for a long-term perspective.” Kim will likely start the season as a member of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

When he signed his two-year contract for an annual salary of 7 million U.S. dollars, he included in the contract a provision on his right to reject his move to the Minor League. This provision requires the player’s consent in any form of demotion. Duquette’s remarks imply that Kim has agreed on his move to the Minor League.

The provision on the right to reject conditions is not absolute at an MLB contract. Teams oftentimes persuade players through dialogue. Kim Hyun-soo stands to benefit by accepting the team’s persuasion because he has to play for the next two years. Kim used to say that his return to Korea means a failure.

According to the local media in the U.S., his team reportedly considered seriously his release from the team by giving up 7 million dollars in his annual salary, or his return to Korea.

“When the team signed the seven-million dollar contract for two years, it should have had a justifiable reason. It is a reckless move to judge the player based on his performance at 40 times at bat in exhibition games, and seek to return him to Korea,” ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney said on Tuesday, while criticizing the team for premature hasty discussions.