The Pirates did the expected Wednesday, declining the 2019 club options on Josh Harrison and Jung Ho Kang, which allowed the infielders to become free agents.
They opted to give Harrison a $1-million buyout rather than pay the two-time All-Star a $10.5-million salary next season. Kang would have made $5.5 million next year but was bought out for $250,000.
Neal Huntington said in September the Pirates would be amenable to bringing back Kang at a lesser salary after the 31-year-old played just three games in the major leagues over the past two seasons. Presumably, any contract would have a low base salary and be heavy with bonuses based on playing time.
Kang missed all 2017 after he was unable to secure a work visa to travel to the United States after his arrest in his native South Korea for driving under the influence in December 2016. It was his third such offense. He was finally cleared to come to the U.S. in April and returned to game action June 1 with Single-A Bradenton. He played in a combined 16 games with that farm club and Triple-A Indianapolis before injuring his left wrist and undergoing surgery.
Kang made it back in time to go 2-for-6 for the Pirates at the end of the season.
He made a significant contribution during his first two seasons in 2015 and 2016, when he became the first position player to make the jump to the major leagues from the Korea Baseball Organization. He hit a combined .273 with 36 home runs in 229 games after being signed to a four-year, $11-million contract in free agency.
Harrison, 31, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Pirates. He is a lifetime .277 hitter with 52 home runs and 75 stolen bases in 842 games.