Report: Former A's pitcher Mengden nearing deal with KBO

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Former A's pitcher Daniel Mengden appears close to a deal with a team in the KBO League.

Daily Sports’ Bae Joong-Hyun reported Tuesday that Mengden’s deal with the KBO club is almost over, citing an official familiar with the foreign market (the report was translated from Korean to English). The report also says Mengden was a hot name -- even “the biggest fish” in the market last year before he wound up returning to the A's for a fifth season.

The A's designated Mengden for assignment in September.

Mengden was one of the A’s pitchers who was used as both a starter and reliever. Last season, he had just one start, but in four games, he posted a 3.54 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 12 ⅓ innings.

Mengden, a highly touted prospect in 2016, put up sensational numbers in the minor leagues (1.19 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A) before making his major league debut that season. His numbers didn’t fare well when he got his call, but he managed to remain part of the A's pitching mix year after year.

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Before the 2020 season, Mengden underwent a few procedures. He had two for a digestive issue and a third for arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow in February. 

He was placed on the injured list after testing positive for coronavirus on Aug. 28. The positive test resulted in a postponement during the A's series against the Houston Astros that would be made up at a later date. Mengden did not break MLB’s safety protocols, manager Bob Melvin and general manager David Forst said.

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Mengden didn’t pitch again after that before he was DFA'd.

The 27-year-old was drafted by the Astros in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He was acquired by the A’s via trade on July 23, 2015 with catcher Jacob Nottingham for pitcher Scott Kazmir.

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