Orioles In Talks With Korean Reliever Chong Tae-Hyon

[O's are Legends]

You can see him in action around the 4:12 mark of this clip.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/amJGPxTgBaA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

A baseball video with Group Home and DJ Premier - supastar as the instrumental!!!!!!!!!!!! Never in my life would I imagine that; simply awesome.

[backwardsk]

Appears to be similar to o'day (?)

[carolinaoriole]

I would be interested to know whether this started with Duquette, or was already in the works before Duquette arrived. My guess is that Duquette will get the credit for any international signings this winter, but the O's were already actively scouting the market in the Far East this fall before naming a GM.

No matter who started it as a big Macphail supporter I think we should give all credit to DD moving forward.

[Frobby]

No matter who started it as a big Macphail supporter I think we should give all credit to DD moving forward.

I really don't care if MacPhail gets any credit at all. I'm thinking more about the folks responsible for international scouting. Was this a strong recommendation they brought to DD and he approved, or is it something that DD identified and pushed for?

[csgordos]

After looking at Tony's Top 20 in our minors and reading about the Orioles for years, one thing that almost everybody agrees on is that we have zero depth high in the minors. The only way to improve that in the short run is to think outside the box and add talent from anywhere we can. Even if it doesn't pan out, the attempt is a sign of moving in the right direction. I have always been of the opinion that bullpen help is crucial, but not what your highest expenditures should be. The Orioles have only helped cement this idea in the past 5 years. Hopefully, if we sign this pitcher, it is one of many signings the next few years that will help complement a good core going forward. The bigger issue is making sure we have a good core. Ultimately, that is what DD will be evaluated on.

[TonySoprano]

@danconnollysun Dan Connolly

Antonelli passes physical/officially signed; Korean RHP Chong is not signed but "trying to see if we can get that resolved," Duquette said.

[Coker]

Still looks like it's going to be a 2-year contract for 3.2MM.

[oriole]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chong_Tae-Hyon

LOL anyone else notice under "Teams" it lists Baltimore Orioles 2012 - Present.

Outside of the fact that his signing is yet to be confirmed how does 2012 - Present make any sense? If 2012 is the future and the present is right now, then how does this statement not defy modern science without the use of time travel? I guess we'll never know...

[csgordos]

LOL anyone else notice under "Teams" it lists Baltimore Orioles 2012 - Present.

Outside of the fact that his signing is yet to be confirmed how does 2012 - Present make any sense? If 2012 is the future and the present is right now, then how does this statement not defy modern science without the use of time travel? I guess we'll never know...

This is the Orioles you are talking about. If anything can mess up the space-time continuium, I would guess it could be the Orioles signing an International Free Agent early in the offseason. If this was 2012 I think it would be a sure sign that the end of the world is about to come, but the fact that it is 2011 just leaves me puzzled.

[Coker]

Major League contract, 1.4M the first year, and 1.6M the second. $200,000 signing bonus (assuming that's what it is - article refers to it as a "deposit"

Needs to pass a physical.

http://news.sportsseoul.com/read/baseball/987687.htm

[PrivateO]

And there could be more news on the way. Multiple reports on Monday had the Orioles in talks with Koren submariner Chong Tae-hyon. A free agent, Tae-hyon wouldn’t have to be posted and he would presumably be added to an Orioles’ bullpen that figures to undergo some vast changes this offseason.

As of early Monday evening, no deal has been reached with Chong, although word out of Korea is it’s a done deal. Stay tune for more news on that. New executive vice president of baseball Dan Duquette said in his initial press conference he was going to be aggressive internationally, and this would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Chong, if signed, would be the first KBO player to jump right to the Major Leagues.

http://brittghiroli.mlblogs.com/2011/11/21/closing-in-on-chong/

[Dipper9]

Let's remember that this is just a 32 year old bullpen arm. A good signing if it happens. Looks like he won't be expensive. Low risk, high reward. This isn't a guy that is going to put butts in the seats at Camden Yards though. DD has more moves he has to make this offseason.

Oh, and here I thought he was finished.

Seriously dude, was that post neccesary? Is that going to be the reaction to every player signed?

[Dipper9]

I agree. I'm not at all worried about whether the moves the Orioles make this winter sell tickets - they probably won't, to any significant degree. But if several small moves add up to a big improvement in the team's record at a fairly low incremental cost, Duquette will have done his job. Win first, and the fans will notice.

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

You have to make many, many small steps to improve this team. Unfortunately too many people around here are expecting to eat the elephant in one bite, ie Pujols or Fielder signing here, and its just not going to happen. But don't let sanity get in the way of hundreds more "You're the GM" threads!

[Dipper9]

A baseball video with Group Home and DJ Premier - supastar as the instrumental!!!!!!!!!!!! Never in my life would I imagine that; simply awesome.

Dude, I pressed play and then started reading the rest of this page....it sounds like there's a friggin porn movie playing in the background! Hilarious!

[Dipper9]

http://brittghiroli.mlblogs.com/2011/11/21/closing-in-on-chong/

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=time+in+korea+now&pbx=1&oq=time+in+kore&aq=1&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=2032l5507l0l7218l14l8l1l2l3l0l1794l3241l0.2.5.8-1l10l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=cfc3d9a59c65e3bb&biw=1280&bih=771

Its currently 8:24am Tuesday morning Korean time. That's why they are reporting the deal as done and we are saying its not...they are a day ahead of us! :rofl: