The Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization announced that they’ve re-signed first baseman/designated hitter Jose Miguel Fernandez and signed left-hander Ariel Miranda (link via Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency).
Fernandez, who’ll be returning for a third season with the Bears, never got much of a look in the Majors despite a considerable track record in the Cuban National Series, but he’s broken out as a star-level hitter in the KBO. The 32-year-old hasn’t missed a game since originally signing with the Bears and has delivered a combined .342/.407/.490 batting line with 36 homers, 63 doubles and more walks (119) than strikeouts (just 96) through 1313 plate appearances. Fernandez’s deal comes with $800K worth of guarantees and an additional $300K available via incentives.
Miranda, 32 in January, will now somewhat remarkably have pitched in virtually every top professional league in the world. The Cuban-born southpaw got his start in the Cuban National Series back in 2007 and has since pitched in the Majors (with the Orioles and Mariners), Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (SoftBank Hawks) and most recently in Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CTBC Brothers).
This past season in Taiwan, Miranda tallied 156 1/3 innings of 3.80 ERA ball with 9.8 K/9 against 3.8 BB/9. That came on the heels of a two-year NPB run that saw him post a 3.37 ERA in 133 2/3 frames. Miranda logged a 4.72 ERA in 221 big league frames between Baltimore and Seattle, tallying a career-high 160 innings with the Mariners back in 2017. He’ll be guaranteed $700K in his new deal with the Bears and can make another $100K via incentives.
The KBO limits each team to three foreign professionals, so assuming right-hander Walker Lockett passes the physical to complete his already agreed-upon deal, they’ll be at capacity.
I have faith in Miranda to pull off the comeback in a couple years. Idk why, but I always liked the guy when he was on the M’s. He’s just an odd player I like.
Fernandez should have been given a chance with the Angels. They couldn’t do any worse than what they had. Albert was a huge signing mistake, and Cron couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.
I agree with you on Fernandez. The Angels should have gave him a longer look. Puieg came to my mind when he first orginally signed with the Dodgers.
My team the Orioles should have signed Fernandez. He would definitely be a upgrade over Davis.
Yea. Davis fell hard.
Where would you play Mancini and Mountcastle then?
Mountcastle at 3B and Trey at DH. Given Trey recent medical history I would want to rest him as much as possible. Mountcastle can also play LF.