Will White Sox repeat their blockbuster signing of Erick Fedde?

Many people were surprised when the White Sox signed free agent pitcher Erick Fedde two years ago.

The rebuilding franchise gave the failed former first-rounder a two-year contract worth $15 million to return from Korea, where he won 20 games for the NC Dinos. It turned out to be one of the best moves the Sox have made in years.

Fedde went 7-4 with a 3.11 earned run average in 21 starts — not bad for a team that was otherwise 19-68 — before being traded to St. Louis on July 29 as part of a three-team trade. That deal (which also included Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham) added corner infielder Miguel Vargas and teenage infielders Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus to the Sox’ inventory of under-25 players.

Vargas, who produced a .923 OPS in 214 Triple-A games for the Dodgers and White Sox, appeared to be turning a corner this season. He delivered 16 home runs in 138 games, including a second-half surge where he hit .267 with a .791 OPS after the All-Star break. Perez, a bat-first player blessed with quick hands, led the South Atlantic League with 22 home runs.

That’s a nice return for what turned out to be a $5 million investment in Fedde, who hasn’t been able to duplicate the consistency he showed in Chicago. The Cardinals transferred him to Atlanta last July and he finished the season with a deep role with the Brewers.

Don’t be surprised if the White Sox make a similar move this season. Two pitchers from the KBO-winning Hanwha Eagles qualify as low-hanging free agent fruit and the Sox remain positioned to give them the same kind of runway as Fedde.

Much bigger names are expected from the Asian team this year, including third baseman Munetaka Murakami, corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto and undersized ace Tatsuya Imai. But Hanwha right-handers Ryan Weiss and Cody Ponce are also intriguing, especially for teams that don’t typically shop the Rodeo Drive markets.

Both Weiss (6-4, 210) and Ponce (6-6, 255) are reasonable facsimiles of Fedde. They stand tall and throw hard, and like Fedde, they’ve learned new tricks during their time abroad.

With MLB teams looking to acquire more pitching volume more than ever, it’s not out of the question that contenders could land a spot for Weiss or Ponce, hoping they land with the next Merrill Kelly or Colby Lewis. But the Cubs, for example, wouldn’t offer the same kind of job security as the White Sox.

Weiss has an extra hook. A native of the Midwest, he attended South Elgin High School, just west of Chicago, and blossomed at Wright State. Arizona drafted him in the fourth round in 2018, but he never made it out of Triple-A with the Diamondbacks or Royals. He has spent the past three seasons abroad, joining Hanwha in 2024 after stints in Taiwan and in the Atlantic League in 2023.

Weiss turns 29 in December. He was 16-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 30 starts last season, struck out 207 and had a 3.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Weiss has a mid-90s fastball that pushes into the high 90s, but has developed into a more pure pitcher, working on both his command and ability to control movement through a variety of pitch grips. He has also spent his time away from Major League clubs working on his fitness and has become durable.

The 31-year-old Ponce, a second-round pick by Milwaukee in the 2015 draft, was even better than Weiss last season. He was 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA in 29 starts. He had a KBO-record 252 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings, with a 6.2-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, capturing the pitching Triple Crown.

Ponce spent part of 2020 and ’21 with Pittsburgh before moving to Japan’s Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in ’22. He spent three seasons in Japan before moving to the KBO, where everything seemed to click.

Ponce achieved KBO marks by reeling off 15 straight wins to start the season and also collecting 200 strikeouts in his first 23 starts. His 18 strikeout start on May 17 was a record, breaking a Hyun-jin Ryu record that had stood since 2010.

His success lies in a fastball-cutter combination he throws from a three-quarter arm slot (think Ranger Suarez) and Zack Wheeleresque extension on his pitches. He will certainly draw a lot of attention from teams, giving him options beyond a return to Korea.

Weiss and Ponce are hardly the only KBO pitchers on MLB teams’ radar. Former big leaguer Drew Anderson used a triple-digit fastball to strike out 245 batters in 171 2/3 innings for the Samsung Lions after being released by Detroit in April. Ariel Jurado (Samsung) and Riley Thompson (NC Dinos) also posted an ERA of 3.45 or better over at least 172 innings.

Former Cardinals pitcher James Naile is another candidate. He had a career season with the Kia Tigers, going 8-4 with a 2.25 ERA in 27 starts. Naile hoped to return to the United States after the 2024 season, but suffered a broken jaw in August when he was hit by a line drive. He is looking for a chance as a starter, but could fit as a bulk reliever.