Chicago Cubs showing plenty of interest in Japan this winter

Chicago Cubs Rumors: Piecing the puzzle together once again

Things began to turn back around for Kim in the 2014 season finally. Kim made 28 starts and dropped his ERA down to a respectable 3.42, all the while bringing his strikeout numbers steadily up back to where he was before.

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The 2015 and 2016 seasons were perpetuated by inconsistency, and Kim once again struggled on the mound. While it was not nearly as bad as the previous few seasons, there were still too many challenges standing in Kim’s way.

In 2017, Kim received the vaunted Tommy John surgery. It did, however, seem to turn him into a brand new pitcher. The 2018 season for Kim was fantastic. He started 25 games and finished the year with a 2.98 ERA. Last season, Kim took another giant leap forward, starting 30 games and posting a 2.51 ERA. He reached his highest inning count since 2010 and saw a drop in his walks.

As he is still under control with the SK Wyverns, Kim will be undergoing the formal posting process. This means that if and when a team signs him officially, they will pay a ‘release fee’ based on a specific percentage of his total contract guarantee. It remains to be seen what that will be.

The Cubs are in dire need of help both in the pen and in the starting rotation. Knowing this and hearing the rumblings, there is a chance Chicago makes a run at the lefty. For now, however, it is a wait-and-see process.