Can SK pitcher Kim join U.S. Major League Baseball?

"How much I get paid, which team I join and which position I get do not matter. If there is a team that truly wants me, I will play to the best of my ability to make my dream from childhood come true."

Can SK Wyverns left-handed pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun join the U.S. Major League Baseball, following Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Kim held a news conference in Seoul on Wednesday to announce his bid for a chance to make it to the big leagues via posting. When Ryu was seeking to join the Major League two years ago, he did not hold such an event.

"Kim Kwang-hyun has led the team to advance to the Korean Series for six consecutive seasons and also made a notable contribution as a national team player," said SK president Lim Won-il. "His departure is a big loss for the team, but we have decided to let him go."

When Kim joined the Asian Games in September, he met the team`s condition that he plays seven full-time seasons to qualify for posting in a foreign league with the current team`s consent.

Kim plans to go through the posting system. If the top bid is too low, SK has the right to reject the deal. "Kim Kwang-hyun is a representative pitcher of not only SK but also Korea," said SK Wyvern`s General Manager Min Kyung-sam. "We do not have a target price but expect Major League teams to make bids befitting him." Ryu Hyun-jin`s posting price was 25.73 million U.S. dollars.

U.S. websites specializing in Major League news reported that Kim is positioned between Ryu and Yoon Seok-min. They reported that although Kim is not up to the level of Ryu, he deserves attention. They estimated Kim`s posting price to be at least 10 million dollars.

According to Kim, he has hired an agent named Melvin Roman. "I have not had any particular offer yet but money is not important," Kim said. "As I`m getting married in December, I want to go to America with my wife and accomplish my dream in the new phase of my life."