Suk-min

Yoon

The 25-year-old right-hander hired super agent Scott Boras a few weeks ago and was said to be interested in making the transition to Major League Baseball, but he has now decided against it. Yoon posted an intriguing 2.45 ERA and 178 strikeouts across 172 1/3 innings this past season for Korea’s Kia Tigers.

Yoon won MVP honors of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2011 and played in the World Baseball Classic in 2009. Standing at six-feet and 180 pounds, he tops out at 93 mph on his fastball and also throws a changeup and a hard slider. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 2.45 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 172 1/3 innings with the Kia Tigers this season. Boras plans to talk with him soon about the possibility of entering the posting system. If he chooses against posting, he would be a free agent following the 2012 season. Boras also represents 24-year-old left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who can post before next season and could be a free agent in 2014.

He was expected to appear in his first game with the O’s either March 6 or 7, but there now appears to be no definitive timetable for that appearance. The longer he goes without appearing in a game, the stronger the chances that he’ll begin the season in the minor leagues.

The 27-year-old has received four offers but has narrowed the field to two. It’s not clear which two clubs they are, but the Cubs, Twins and Red Sox have all been connected to Yoon. The right-hander could potentially be used as a back-end starter or reliever in the big leagues.

It sounds like an official announcement on the signing could be made on Saturday. The 27-year-old Korean hurler is likely to compete for a spot in the O’s rotation, and could be worth a look in the later rounds of mixed league drafts.

The Orioles announced Sunday that Yoon had passed his physical, which was one of the sticking points on the deal. He’s still trying to get his work visa processed, and won’t be able to participate in exhibition games until he does so, but can work out with the team at their Sarasota complex in the meantime.

The O’s and Yoon have an agreement on a three-year deal, but it’s not official until Yoon passes a physical. Once the deal is done he’ll be able to work out with the team at their Sarasota complex, but he won’t be able to play in the exhibition games until his work visa is processed. The 27-year-old will, however, be able to participate in intrasquad and B games, so he won’t be too far behind his fellow starters.

No other information is available, but it appears that he’s decided to break the news himself that he’s agreed to terms with the O’s. Of course, it’s likely pending a physical, and, as we’ve learned, those are anything but a foregone conclusion with Baltimore. In addition to the Orioles, the Rangers, Cubs, Giants, Dodgers and Twins have all been connected to Yoon at some point this winter.

Yoon tweeted out a picture of himself in an Orioles cap late Tuesday, fueling speculation that the two sides had come to terms. However, it appears that the speculation was unfounded. Rosenthal says that the O’s are one of five teams still in the mix to sign the Korean right-hander.

It’s a three-year, $5.75 million deal, according to MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli. The contract is pending a physical -- which has been a sticking point for the O’s this offseason -- but the expectation is that the Korean pitcher will pass. Yoon has experience as both a starter and reliever. He was the KBO’s MVP in 2011 and is represented by super agent Scott Boras.