Twins still working on deal sending Albers to Korea

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins general manager Terry Ryan confirmed Friday that he's trying to facilitate a move for left-hander Andrew Albers to the Korean Baseball Organization.

The Twins have yet to reach an official agreement with the Hanwha Eagles, but it could come as soon as this weekend. SportsNet Canada reported the left-hander would make roughly $1 million to pitch in Korea next year and would be a free agent after the season.

Albers, 28, was the club's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2013 after posting a 2.86 ERA in 22 starts with Triple-A Rochester. He also posted a 4.05 ERA in 10 starts with Minnesota. But with the Twins signing right-handers Ricky Nolasco, Phil Hughes and Mike Pelfrey this offseason, Albers was a long shot to make the rotation out of Spring Training.

So Albers has been weighing his options and believes a move to South Korea could be good for him. But he said it's not an easy decision because the Twins were the organization that took a chance on him in 2012, when they signed him to a Minor League deal after he pitched for a year in the independent Can-Am League.

"It's an awfully tough decision because the Twins have been so great to me and have given me so many opportunities," Albers said. "They took a chance on me when nobody else would, so it makes it tough on me. But on the other hand, this would be a great opportunity for me."

Albers, who attended the Diamond Awards on Thursday and is at TwinsFest this weekend, added some paperwork still has to be completed before the move is official.

"Right now, it's in the process of possibly happening," Albers said. "Nothing has been finalized yet. There's a Korean team that has expressed some interest. They're talking to the Twins, but I'm not sure where they're at at this point. But we'll find out in the near future."