SK Wyverns get Kim Sang-su in sign-and-trade deal with Heroes

The SK Wyverns announced Wednesday that they have acquired veteran pitcher Kim Sang-su in a sign-and-trade deal with the Kiwoom Heroes.

Kim Sang-su [SK WYVERNS]

The SK Wyverns announced Wednesday that they have acquired veteran pitcher Kim Sang-su in a sign-and-trade deal with the Kiwoom Heroes.

Kim became a free agent at the end of 2020 season and re-signed with his former club, the Heroes, on a two-plus-one-year deal for a total of 1.55 billion won ($1.4 million) including a 400-million-won signing bonus, 300 million won in annual salary and 150 million won in incentives with a club option for a third year at 100 million won.

The Heroes then traded Kim to the Wyverns for 300 million won and a draft pick in the 2022 draft.

The sign-and-trade agreement allows the purchasing club to avoid the KBO's compensation rules, which see clubs paying out as much as three times a player's annual salary in compensation to their former clubs. If that price is too high or no club seems willing to pay it, players sometimes seek to re-sign with their former club and then get traded to another team, avoiding the compensation rules while still offering some reward for the former club.

Kim debuted with the Samsung Lions in 2006 before moving to the Heroes in 2010. In 2019 he won the KBO title for the most holds, at 40. Kim has appeared in 456 games throughout his career and has a record of 21 wins, 36 losses, 38 saves and 97 holds with a 5.08 ERA.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]