Posted KBO star Song Sung-mun not pushing for contract provision to refuse minor league assignment

Song Sung-mun of the Kiwoom Heroes speaks with the trophy after receiving the Player of the Year award from the Korea Professional Baseball Players Alumni Association in Gangnam District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

While awaiting offers from Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs this winter, South Korean infielder Song Sung-mun said Friday he will not pursue a provision in his contract that allows him to refuse an assignment to the minor leagues.

Song addressed the issue after receiving the Player of the Year award from the Korea Professional Baseball Players Alumni Association at an annual ceremony in Seoul.

Song, an All-Star third baseman for the Kiwoom Heroes, was posted for MLB teams last month, giving all 30 big league clubs an opportunity to negotiate with him during a 30-day period. That window will close at 5 p.m. Eastern time on Dec. 21.

"There's a team that I'd like to join, but it's more important to see what kind of offer I get from a team that wants me," Song said. "I will wait patiently until I get offers. I guess I will have to wait until the Winter Meetings (which start Sunday in Orlando, Florida), and the next 10 days will be crucial."

Song batted .315/.387/.530 with 26 home runs, 25 steals and 90 RBIs this year, while ranking second among all Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) players in wins above replacement at 6.84.

Song made his KBO debut in 2015 but only had his first breakout campaign last year at age 28. He started drawing more serious attention from MLB teams this year as he proved 2024 was not a fluke.

And unlike some other KBO players who went to MLB before him, Song said he won't pursue a specific clause in his contract that keeps his team from sending him to the minors without his consent.

"I won't need that clause. If I insist on that, then I might as well not go to the U.S.," Song said. "Since the guaranteed portion of the contract will be directly tied to my playing opportunity, I won't accept an offer that falls short of my expectation."

Current Hanwha Eagles pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin put that clause in his first MLB contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2012. KT Wiz outfielder Kim Hyun-soo also had it in his deal with the Baltimore Orioles signed prior to the 2016 season.

In more recent cases, KBO players did not have that provision in their deals. Kim Hye-seong, Song's former Heroes teammate, began his rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the minors this year and made his MLB debut in May. Not counting an injury rehab assignment in Triple-A in August, Kim stayed in the big leagues for the remainder of the season.

Song said Kim, who signed his deal only hours before the end of his negotiating period in January this year, had told him to stay patient.

"Hye-seong gave me so much advice," Song said. "For now, with my wife due next month, I will take care of her and stay committed to my family. It'd be great to have a chance to play in the majors, but I will not be in any rush."