It was a predictable trip to the minors. Right-handed pitcher David Buchanan, 35, of the Samsung Lions of the KBO, has been removed from the Philadelphia Phillies’ opening day roster.

The Phillies sent seven players down to their minor league camp on Wednesday, including pitcher Buchanan, infielder/outfielder Scott Kingery, outfielders David Dahl, Jordan Luplow, Carl Stephenson, and catchers Cam Gallagher and Aramis Garcia.

As expected, the Phillies, who are trimming their roster ahead of their regular season opener against the Atlanta Braves on April 29, excluded Buchanan. Buchanan, who joined spring training as an invitee after signing a minor league contract, needed to make an impression in the exhibition games, but it didn’t happen.

In four games, two starts and two relief appearances, Buchanan posted a 5.63 ERA. In eight innings, he allowed 13 hits and walked three batters. He struck out 12, but with a 2.00 WHIP and a 3.7 K/BB ratio, he was unable to make the opening day roster.

Buchanan got off to a shaky start in his first exhibition start against the Boston Red Sox on March 27, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts in two innings. He fared slightly better in his next start against the Minnesota Twins on March 3, 카지노사이트 allowing one run on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings, but struggled in relief against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 10, allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 2⅔ innings.

In his final outing,

A relief appearance against the Detroit Tigers on April 20, Buchanan pitched 1 1/3 innings of one-hit ball with no walks and three strikeouts, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the evaluation. As a result, Buchanan will begin the season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Philadelphia organization.

It was an uphill battle from the start. The Phillies have a solid five-man starting rotation of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Taijuan Walker, and Christopher Sanchez. Adding to the rotation are pitchers signed to major league contracts, including Spencer Turnbull (one year, $2 million) and Colby Allard (one year, $1 million).

Allard went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA and six strikeouts in three games (two starts and 5⅔ innings) in exhibition play, but was sent down to Triple-A via the minor league option due to the team’s overflowing starting staff. With the long-relief spot going to Turnbull, Buchanan was unable to avoid a demotion to the minors.

As it turns out, leaving Korea was a handshake for Buchanan. Buchanan spent four years in South Korea, from 2020 to last year, appearing in 113 games and throwing 699⅔ innings, compiling a 54-28 record with a 3.02 ERA and 539 strikeouts. During that time, he led the KBO in innings pitched, wins, quality starts (80), ERA, and strikeouts.

As an ace,

he set an example for the younger players in the team with his competitive spirit and self-management. Samsung offered Buchanan a two-year contract after last year’s season. It was an unusual offer in the KBO, which has yet to officially sign a foreign player to a multi-year contract, but the financials didn’t add up.

After signing new foreign pitcher Connor Seabold and infielder David McKinnon with a new $1 million cap hit, the maximum salary Samsung could spend on Buchanan this year was $2.4 million. Next year, they could have offered him up to $2.5 million, but they also had to be prepared to re-sign Seabold and McKinnon if they performed well. This made it difficult to realistically match Buchanan’s max salary, and negotiations stalled and broke down. Samsung opted out of re-signing Buchanan in favor of right-hander Denny Reyes.

Buchanan’s decision to opt out of his guaranteed multi-year contract was based on his American options. The Cincinnati Reds were initially interested in Buchanan, but the tide turned after they acquired proven starter Frankie Montas in free agency. A lame duck, Buchanan signed a minor league contract with his hometown Phillies to return to the majors nine years later, only to be denied a spot on the opening day roster.

In order for Buchanan to return to South Korea,

He’ll need to find a spot with Samsung, which holds the holdout rights. Connor, who was touted as Samsung’s new foreign ace, got off to a strong start in the opening game of the season against the KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on April 23, 토토사이트 추천 allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits (one home run) with eight strikeouts in six innings. He was effective with a fastball that topped out at 152 mph and a slider that was more of a sweeper. Samsung will send out another foreign pitcher, Reyes, against KT on April 24. With Reyes’ pitching a question mark compared to Connor’s, Buchanan’s fate could change this season. Samsung is reportedly keeping in touch with Buchanan and preparing for any contingencies.