Report: Orioles have discussed releasing Kim for return to Korea

Amid a disappointing spring training from Korean expat Hyun Soo Kim, the Baltimore Orioles have reportedly discussed the possibility of working out an arrangement to release him from his newly signed two-year deal so he can return to the Korea Baseball Organization, sources told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

On Saturday, however, Orioles president of baseball operations Dan Duquette was cryptic when asked about such an arrangement, noting that he isn't done evaluating Kim, who smashed 28 homers with a .979 OPS with the Doosan Bears in 2015 but is hitting just .189/.222/.182 through 16 Grapefruit League games.

"I don't know if we're there yet," Duquette said.

The Orioles have some experience with these types of arrangements, reaching a deal with right-hander Suk-min Yoon last year that allowed him to return to Korea just one season into a three-year contract while sparing the club $4.3 million in salary and expenses. At this point, however, it's not clear if Kim - whose $7-million contract prohibits the Orioles from sending him to the minors - has any desire to return to Korea, or if any KBO team would be interested in signing the outfielder.

Kim, who hit .318/.406/.488 with 142 homers over parts of 10 seasons with Doosan, was one of three KBO stars to land a contract with an MLB club this winter, one year after fellow countryman Jung Ho Kang signed a four-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though his first season stateside ended early due to a serious leg injury, Kang posted an .816 OPS with 15 homers in 126 games last year and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

"These transitions, they take a while," Duquette said. "You've got the language. You've got the culture. The baseball is a little different. There are better pitchers here."