"Peddy is close to signing a two-year contract with an unspecified team that has yet to be disclosed. His annual salary will exceed 5 million dollars."

"If the contract is signed, Pedi will return to the Major League after spending one season in Korea. The 30-year-old has had a great year with an ERA of 2.00 in 180 ⅓ innings for the NC Dinosaurs. The number of walks he gave to the opposing batter was less than 5 percent, and he struck out 29.5 percent of the batters," the media said.

"By demonstrating overwhelming performance in batter-friendly foreign leagues, he laid the groundwork for his quick return to Major League Baseball. He also improved the horizontal movement of the slider (sweeper) and adjusted the grip of the change-up. The changed weapons have interested several teams. Pedi is drawing attention from several Major League teams this winter," he added.

"According to sources, Pedi's options seem to have been narrowed down to the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets. The two-year contract, which is expected to be worth 10 million dollars (about 13.1 billion won), could be completed tomorrow," Feinsand said on his personal social networking service account later in the day.

This year, Pedi became a new foreign player in the KBO league and joined hands with NC for a total of 1 million dollars, including a down payment of 200,000 dollars and an annual salary of 800,000 dollars. There are no restrictions from the second year onwards, and multi-year contracts are also possible. After the end of the season, NC offered Pedi the highest treatment, including a multi-year contract.

It is highly likely that he suggested something similar to or higher than Drew Luccinski. Luccinski, who played for NC, showed off 19-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 2020 and 15-10 with a 3.17 ERA in 2021. NC awarded Luccinski a total of $2 million ahead of the 2022 season.

However, he could not afford to call a large amount of money recklessly. Under the current contract system for foreign players in the KBO League, each club can only spend up to 4 million U.S. dollars a year on three foreign players, including annual salaries, incentives and transfer fees. The amount will increase by 100,000 dollars depending on the players' annual renewal of contract, but the amount is still not enough to keep the "super ace" in the team. It is virtually impossible to gain an upper hand in money battles with Major League Baseball and Japanese professional baseball (NPB) teams.

NC negotiated with Pedi by renewing his contract. At the same time, he worked on a two-track basis, searching for new foreigners in case Pedi left.

The prospect that Peddy will return to the big league has gained strength. A promising player for the Washington Nationals, Peddy made his big league debut in 2017. He played for six seasons until last year, recording 21 wins and 33 losses with an ERA of 5.41 in 102 games (88 starts). Before joining the NC Dinosaurs, he earned 2.15 million dollars a year from the Nationals. If he returns to the big league this time, his salary will more than double.

When he returns to the Major League, Pedi will continue the KBO league's reverse export myth after Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks), Josh Lindblom, and Brooks Raley (New York Mets).

Pedi, who made his first debut in the KBO league this year, showed off his powerful performance by banking on Swiper, a modified pitching archer. He showed off his 20-6 losses and 2.00 ERA in 180 ⅓ innings in a total of 30 games. He struck out 209 to set a new record of 20 wins and 200 strikeouts. He is the fifth player in the KBO league history and the first among foreign players. Since Sun Dong-yeol (24 wins and 214 strikeouts, Haitai Tigers) in 1986, he has achieved the feat in 37 years.

He also achieved a triple crown by holding titles in ERA, victory and strikeout. He is the fourth player in Korea's history, followed by Sun Dong-yeol (1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, and Haitai), Ryu Hyun-jin (2006, Hanwha Eagles), and Yoon Seok-min (2011, KIA Tigers).

It is the 22nd KBO league pitcher to record more than 20 wins. In 2020, Raul Alcantara (Doosan Bears) showed 20 wins and 2 losses. Pedi took over the baton for the first time in three years.

He had 200 strikeouts in a season, the 16th in the history of the KBO league. After Ahn Woo-jin of the Kiwoom Heroes showed off 224 strikeouts last year, Peddy left a mark.

He also set the record for the most wins in a single season in the history of NC Dinosaurs. Eric Hacker in 2015 and Lucinski in 2020 held the previous records with 19 wins and five losses, respectively.

Pedi won five awards at the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Awards. He won the KBO MVP of the honor, the ERA award, the win award, the strikeout award, and the defense trophy in the pitching category. He was the second MVP of the NC Dinosaurs since Eric Thames in 2015 and the second MVP of the league in eight years.

According to the online voting results of reporters at media companies and reporters in charge of local media, Pedi won 102 votes out of 111 votes in the MVP category. He boasted an overwhelming 91.9 percent of the vote. Infielder Noh Si-hwan of Hanwha Eagles won six votes, outfielder Hong Chang-ki of the LG Twins won two, and infielder Choi Jeong of the SSG Landers won one.

After leaving for the U.S. on April 8 after the end of the season, he and his father Scott Peddy returned to Korea on April 26. The following day, he attended an award ceremony held on April 27 and made his way to the U.S. He then boarded a plane to the U.S. on April 28.

During the KBO award ceremony, Pedi said, "I thank the KBO league. I was able to receive such awards because I came to NC, a team. I never expected this to happen, but I am so honored and happy," adding, "I attended the ceremony hoping to receive the MVP award. I am very happy to receive it in person."

"If it weren't for my teammates, I wouldn't have won the MVP award. I want to say we are brothers until the end. I'm also grateful to coach Kang In-kwon, coaches and staff," he said. "I want to give this honor to the city of Changwon as well. Many citizens have helped me. Wherever I go from now on, Changwon will be my second home."

"It's been an incredible season. I thought, 'Can I do it?'" Pedi said. "After all my hard work, I think I'll be able to finish it well. I don't think there will be a better season in baseball than this year."

As for his future career, he said, "I will talk to NC first and then talk to other teams. Whatever choice I make, I will put my family first," adding, "Of course, I have to talk to NC as well. I think NC is a very superior club among countless teams. I will always have a place in my heart."

At the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Golden Glove Awards, which will take place on March 11, Pedi will also embrace the golden glove in the pitching category. If he wins the award, he will be the second NC pitcher in eight years, following Hacker in 2015. Yang Eui-ji (current Doosan Bears) has received the most recent Golden Glove award as a member of NC Dinos. He won the designated hitter award in 2021.

Pedi was highly praised not only for his ability but also for his personality. His teammates and other pitchers shared his tips on how to use the sweeper. He transferred the sweeper to Ahn Woo-jin and Sean Anderson (KIA).

Moon Dong-ju, a second-year rookie of the year who won this year's Rookie of the Year award, especially expressed his gratitude to Pedi. Pedi and Moon met separately in Changwon, the hometown of the NC Dinosaurs, during the regular season.

"I had a great opportunity to have dinner with him. Thanks to him, I was able to learn more about baseball. I can't tell you what it was about, but I think it will be of great help to my baseball career," Moon said with a smile. "I'm really grateful to him. He was always nice and kind to me even though I often bothered him. I will continue to support him."

Pedi also took a photo with Moon Dong-ju at the KBO awards ceremony, saying, "I hope you can hold these trophies later."

 

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