SATURDAY: Colabello has rejected an offer to play in South Korea, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press writes. A source with direct knowledge of the situation says Colabello turned down a "significant offer" from a Korean team that wasn't the LG Twins. The slugger could have earned nearly $1MM in 2014 under the offer, while the Twins would have received a comparable buyout. "Things are always subject to change, but Chris made it clear he wants to help the Minnesota Twins," said Brian Charles of Big League Management Co., who represents Colabello.
FRIDAY: Berardino now indicates that the Twins are asking for "possibly upwards of $1MM."
FRIDAY: The Twins could send 1B/OF Chris Colabello to play in Korea, Berardino notes (citing a Korean news report). The Twins are reportedly in discussions with the LG Twins (and that's not a typo) to transfer Colabello's contract, which could net them up to $1MM. Such a move would free a 40-man roster space for the (Minnesota) Twins, who need one to accomodate the impending signing of catcher Kurt Suzuki. The Twins could only send Colabello abroad with his permission.
Colabello, 30, hit .194/.287/.344 in 181 plate appearances in his big-league debut in 2013, but he also hit 24 home runs in Triple-A, posting a .352/.427/.639 line in 391 plate appearances there. Colabello has a total of 50 home runs between the minors and the Majors since the Twins signed him out of independent ball prior to the 2012 season.
Aaron Steen contributed to this post.
Wow, 3 in a day now?
So, would these be the same as cutting him? Are the MN Twins affiliated with the LG Twins or is that just a coincidence? I’ve never heard of anything like this. If they want to free up a roster spot, why don’t they just DFA him or remove him from the 40-man?
No link at all between the two teams
Man, I have been following Chris Colabello since I first met him back in his Worcester Tornadoes days. I hope he latches on with an MLB team for next season, want to see what he can do.
I know it was a relatively small sample size, but what we saw of Chris last year in the Bigs wasn’t pretty at all. The opposing teams quickly figured out that he had a penchant from swinging at high fastballs and dirt-scraping sliders.
Even if it depends on his permission, I never knew that MLB teams could send players to foreign leagues. Why not sell prospects?
I think they can only send a guy with his permision with Korea paying mlb for the guy contract.. Like the players who were DFA this year end up having their contract sold to korea like Eric Thames..
This reminds me of a prank that The Phillies played on Kyle Kendrick. The entire team including the coaching staff, the press and his own agent were in on the prank. They told him that he was getting traded to Japan. The look on his face is priceless, they let him believe it for awhile.
Not a very funny thing to do…
Kendrick and the Phillies were lucky Kendrick didn’t immediately start saying nasty things about the team or something like that. He easily could have. The whole thing was on camera.
The best part is they said he was being trades for Kobiashi, who was the hotdog eating champ
Alot of players moving overseas to play this off-season.
In Korea up until last month the Korean teams were only allowed 2 Foreign players per team. The KBO recently officially approved the increase of foreign players per team (3 each, NC Dinos gets 4), 1 must be a pitcher and 1 must be a non-pitcher, 2 are allowed to be active during the same game. Last year all of the foreign players were pitchers, and most teams are going with 1 pitcher and 2 non-pitchers. The winter leagues are also wrapping up where most were scouted, So that is the reason for the increase.
MN Twins get 1M for a guy not even hitting .200? Take it!
They need to in order to pay all of their #5 starters.
Is this a joke? Haha keep thinking back to Kyle Kendrick
Nothing worse than getting traded for the hot dog eating guy
I thought normally a player on a 40 man who wants to play in Asia typically gets released from his contract as a courtesy from his US team. Since when could the asian team buy the player?
“The Twins could send 1B/OF Chris Colabello to play in Korea.”
North or South? Can Colabello play basketball, and does he know Dennis Rodman?
“The Twins could send 1B/OF Chris Colabello to play in Korea.”
North or South? Can Colabello play basketball, and does he know Dennis Rodman?
I guess he heard Luke Scott was going to Korea too.
Seems a lot of movement to Japan/Korea this year. Maybe MLB needs to consider adding a few teams.
These guys that are signing overseas are guys that aren’t good enough to play in the majors. Instead of playing in the minors for teams that are only using them as filler, they are getting better deals and more playing time. There’s no need to expand the league so Luke Scott and Kevin Youkils can play in the majors everyday.
Can’t blame him. Going overseas isnt for everyone
So, the Twins don’t want him, and he doesn’t want to play in the KBO. Maybe the Brewers could offer something to get him? (In case nobody has caught onto a theme in my comments, I’m desperate for the Brewers to make SOME move at 1B)
Email Terry Ryan and make the suggestion. I get the impression he is willing to take some money in hopes to stock pile a few bucks for another pitcher. I am all for it myself.
He wants to help the Minnesota Twins, and they’re trying to sell him to South Koreans? Doesn’t sound like they want his “help” that much.
well how long till he get DFA by the twins as they do need a rosters spot & it not worth keeping a a guy who battted .194 with .284 OBP… If he want to stay with twins will probably end up resigning with them on minor league deal..