Free-agent left-hander Kyle Hart agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the San Diego Padres on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the deal. The deal also includes a $5 million club option for the 2026 season that comes with a $500,000 buyout. His 2026 salary can reach $7.5 million based on escalators for games started. Desperate for additional starting pitching, the Padres added right-hander Nick Pivetta to a four-year, $55 million deal on Wednesday night and then added Hart. The 32-year-old southpaw made his big-league debut with the Boston Red Sox back in 2020 but struggled in four outings (three starts). He'll now return to the U.S. after posting a 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 182 K's and 38 walks in 157 innings in the Korean Baseball Organization last year. Hart will be competing with Matt Waldron and Randy Vasquez for the No. 5 rotation spot in SD this spring.
According to Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic, free agent left-handed pitcher Kyle Hart is drawing interest from five clubs on the free agent market. According to a source, the Yankees, Twins, Astros, Orioles, and Brewers are among the suitors. The southpaw has not pitched in the MLB since 2020 but has begun to revive his career by pitching overseas in South Korea. This past season in South Korea, Hart posted a 2.69 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP with 182 strikeouts across 157 innings of work. In 2020, Hart logged 11 innings in San Francisco to the tune of a 15.55 ERA and a 3.09 WHIP. Across 334 2/3 career innings at the Triple-A level, he posted a 4.36 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. If Hart were to find a suitor, he would likely operate as a long-relief option.
Free-agent pitcher Kyle Hart is reportedly generating serious interest from major-league teams (up to 13) this offseason after he won the Korean Baseball Organization's Dong-won Award for the best pitcher and also the award for best defensive pitcher in 2024. The 32-year-old left-hander pitched for the NC Dinos in Korea in 2024 and went 13-3 with a 2.69 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while striking out 182 and walking just 38 in 157 innings pitched over his 26 starts overseas. Hart, who was drafted in the 19th round in 2016 out of Indiana University Bloomington, made his big-league debut with Boston in 2020 and allowed 21 runs (19 earned) with 10 walks and 13 K's in just 11 innings over four outings (three starts). Given his success in Korea this year, Hart could parlay that into a decent MLB deal this winter, although he'll be a long shot to become fantasy relevant in 2025.
Free-agent starting pitcher Kyle Hart signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO on Monday, per NY Post's Jon Heyman. The deal is worth $900,000. The 31-year-old lefty spent the majority of the 2023 season with the Mariners' Triple-A Tacoma, making 18 starts with a 4.58 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 22.1% strikeout rate. Most of his career was spent in the minors, so Hart will now look to make an impact in Korea.
Boston Red Sox minor league pitcher Kyle Hart's outing on Saturday was impressive. The 6-foot-5 hurler threw six hitless innings, surrendering three walks while striking out eight batters. One would imagine that he'll find his way to the majors due to the atrocious state of Boston's bullpen. Yet, even if he is called up to the show, he can be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues. Hart, 29, has yet to truly find his groove at the Triple-A level. The southpaw earned his call to the majors in 2020 but allowed 19 earned runs over 11 innings. He has been stuck in the minors ever since, spending time with Triple-A Worcester. Hart throws his fastball in the low-90s and depends on contact in order to record outs. His best secondary pitch is an effective, low-80s slider, but he also boasts a cutter, changeup, and curveball.
