The Samsung Lions have parted ways with foreign pitcher Albert Suarez (34), who is out with an injury.
Samsung is set to announce the signing of Taylor Widener (29), who played for the NC Dinos, after claiming Suarez off waivers (exclusively reported by this magazine on the 10th).
On 4 April, NC requested the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) to place Widener on waivers and signed left-handed pitcher Tanner Tully (29) as a replacement foreign player for a total of $200,000 ($150,000 salary, $50,000 option).
NC tried to help Weidner leave the country, but he reportedly delayed his departure and stayed in Masan to negotiate with Samsung.
Samsung was plagued by Suarez’s sudden calf rupture injury against LG in Daegu on the 6th.
Suarez injured his left calf in the bottom of the first inning while taking a stance to cover first base after allowing a single to Kim Hyun-soo in the third inning. He limped off the mound in discomfort and was immediately taken to the SM Radiology Department for an MRI.
After the game, a Samsung representative said, “Suarez was examined and found to have a 12cm damage to the gastrocnemius muscle of his left calf,” explaining, “He is expected to take about four weeks to recover.”
If it takes four weeks to recover, it will be early September. The earliest he’ll be back pitching is five or six weeks later. He will be available for the remainder of the season.
The team, which was preparing for a full-scale rebound from the drop, had its own problems. Yang Chang-seop joined the team earlier this month, and the Futures League has a few alternatives in Choi Ha-neul and Heo Yoon-dong. However, neither of them have had much success in the first team this season.
In addition, Choi Chae-heung, who retired from the Sangmu, was dropped from the roster on the 9th after a poor performance. The team lost two of its main starters at once.
The team was worried about overloading the bullpen, which was not solid enough. The team explained that they had a list of pitchers who could be called upon, but they needed a pitcher who could be used immediately without wasting time.
Samsung’s eyes naturally turned to Widener, who had just parted ways with the NC. He had recently checked his physical condition and was ready to sign.
Widener is not eligible to play in autumn baseball this season due to Article 94 of the KBO’s rules, which states that players who are transferred by waiver after August 1 are not eligible to play in the postseason. However, if a new pitcher other than Widener is acquired before the 15th of the month, the team will be able to play in the postseason.
With 47 games to go, Samsung sits in 10th place without a win or a loss, but a postseason berth is not out of the question. Samsung is 9-1-1 in the second half of the season. On the 9th, they came from behind to win 6-4 against Doosan in Jamsil after a seesaw battle.
But why did Samsung choose Widner?
The decision to drop Suarez and sign Widner means that regardless of the outcome of the fifth-place playoffs, the team will do its best in every game.
The primary objective is to get out of the bottom half of the table, something the club has never done in its 41 years of existence. To climb the table as high as possible, instil winning DNA into the squad and lay the foundations for a rebound next season.
Widener, who has been in the rotation in NC, can be used as a trade acquisition. The starting order may be adjusted in the aftermath of the typhoon, but he could start as early as the 13th against SSG in Incheon.
In 11 games in an NC uniform this season, Widener is 4-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 61⅔ innings pitched.
In 49 career major league games (13 starts), Widener is 2-3 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts. He has a fastball that tops out at 155 mph and a slider changeup.
However, he suffered a back strain in an exhibition game and didn’t make the first team until 28 May. The aftermath of his injury has been a bit of an up-and-down season, with his balance a bit off.
However, Samsung has plenty to look forward to.
Coincidentally, he has pitched brilliantly in the two games since NC decided to part ways. After giving up two runs in six innings against KT on the 28th of last month, he rebounded with two consecutive quality starts against Lotte on the 3rd of this month, throwing seven innings of four-hit ball with eight strikeouts and one walk.메이저놀이터
NC had already decided to make a change after the game against Hanwha on the 22nd of this month, so they were unable to continue with Widener. Samsung made a bold and quick decision, hoping that the last appearance in the NC would be the real Widener.