Seoul: While awaiting offers from Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs this winter, South Korean infielder Song Sung-mun announced he will not pursue a provision in his contract that allows him to refuse an assignment to the minor leagues. Song made this decision public after receiving the Player of the Year award from the Korea Professional Baseball Players Alumni Association at an annual ceremony held in Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Song, an All-Star third baseman for the Kiwoom Heroes, was posted for MLB teams last month, granting all 30 big league clubs an opportunity to negotiate with him during a 30-day period. This window is set to close at 5 p.m. Eastern time on December 21. Song remarked, "There's a team that I'd like to join, but it's more important to see what kind of offer I get from a team that wants me. I will wait patiently until I get offers. I guess I will have to wait until the Winter Meetings (which start Sunday in Orlando, Florida), and the next 10 days will be crucial."

Song has had an impressive year, batting .315/.387/.530 with 26 home runs, 25 steals, and 90 RBIs. He also ranked second among all Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) players in wins above replacement at 6.84. Making his KBO debut in 2015, Song only had his first breakout campaign last year at age 28, drawing serious attention from MLB teams this year as he proved his performance was not a fluke.

Unlike some KBO players before him, Song stated he won't pursue a specific clause in his contract that keeps his team from sending him to the minors without his consent. Song expressed, "I won't need that clause. If I insist on that, then I might as well not go to the U.S. Since the guaranteed portion of the contract will be directly tied to my playing opportunity, I won't accept an offer that falls short of my expectation."

In previous cases, KBO players like Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Hyun-soo included such clauses in their MLB contracts. However, more recent players like Kim Hye-seong did not have this provision in their deals. Kim Hye-seong, Song's former Heroes teammate, began his rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the minors and made his MLB debut in May, staying in the big leagues for the remainder of the season.

Song mentioned that Kim, who signed his deal just before the end of his negotiating period in January, advised him to stay patient. "Hye-seong gave me so much advice," Song said. "For now, with my wife due next month, I will take care of her and stay committed to my family. It'd be great to have a chance to play in the majors, but I will not be in any rush."