Mengden signs with Kia Tigers in Korea

December 25th, 2020

Former A's right-hander will pitch in Korea in 2021. The KBO's Kia Tigers announced that they've signed Mengden to a contract worth a total of $1 million.

Mengden's deal includes a $425,000 salary, $300,000 signing bonus and $275,000 in incentives.

Over five Major League seasons with the A's, Mengden had a 17-20 record in 60 games (48 starts) with a 4.64 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 302 2/3 innings.

The 27-year-old was limited to four appearances and 12 1/3 innings in 2020 after recovering from three offseason surgeries -- a right elbow debridement procedure and a pair of surgeries to address an intestinal issue -- and dealing with COVID-19 in September.

Mengden's best season came in 2018, when he pitched 22 games (17 starts) for Oakland and went 7-6 with a 4.05 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 115 2/3 innings.

Mengden elected to become a free agent at the end of the season after he was designated for assignment by the A's and then outrighted off the 40-man roster.