*This content was translated by AI.
David Buchanan (37), who plays as an ace for the KBO League Samsung Lions and is familiar to domestic baseball fans, is in an unexpected "Mia" crisis on the Taiwanese professional baseball (CPBL) stage. As the club manager's hasty remarks, which he hoped to recruit, turned into a controversy over "pre-contact (tamping),", a red light was lit on his next season's move.
CPBL Stats, which mainly deals with Taiwanese baseball, said on the 16th, "Fubang Guardians general manager Joyce Chen is about to submit a proposal to change the foreign player contract system. The plan is for CPBL clubs to increase the ban on prior contact from February 28 the year after the previous year to December 31 of the year. This matter must be approved by a majority of the 6th team at the CPBL general meeting," he said.
The beginning of the incident came from the Taigang Hawks' spring camp media day, which took place on the 10th. According to multiple media outlets, including Taiwan ET Today, Thai Kang coach Hong Yi-jung (65), who met with reporters at the scene, mentioned, "We recruited Buchanan" while explaining the composition of foreign players in the 2026 season. It was a clear slip of the tongue at a time when the recruitment announcement was not made.
The level of remarks was too high to dismiss it as a simple wish to recruit Buchanan. Taiwan's local media immediately reported the remarks extensively, which immediately led to a "pre-contact" controversy. This is because according to CPBL regulations, the previous year's club, the Fubang Guardians, holds the priority negotiation rights for Buchanan until February 28. According to the regulations, no other club is allowed to come into direct contact with the player or discuss the contract within this period.
As the controversy grew, the Thai River club explained, "It was an error in communication between the coach and the club," and "Vu Cannon is just a player on the recruitment list and has not even contacted him yet." However, the Fubang Guardians' position is cold.
In an interview with local media, a Fubang official also said, "It is a clear violation of regulations that shake the foundation of the league." Fubang has not completely ruled out the possibility of renewing Buchanan's contract for the 2026 season, but it seems that he continues to struggle with various options after talks emerged that he is heading to the Taigang Hawks.
In the end, according to league regulations, Buchanan is highly likely to become a "Nakdong River duck egg" if he does not renew his contract because Fuban has priority to negotiate with Buchanan until February 28. The six CPBL clubs will start their spring camp schedules in January and start preparing for the 2026 season. In the end, if Buchanan fails to build his body during this period, the departure will be delayed no matter which team he signs.
Buchanan, who signed with Fubang during the season in May last year, made his CPBL debut in the 2025 season and started 11 games for Fubang, leaving a not bad record of 1-4 with a 1.95 ERA. Although there was only one victory, it is possible to say that it was a bit unfortunate because the WHIP (on-base allowance per inning) was not a bad record of 1.27. However, it is interpreted that the intention to press Buchanan, who was on the injured list, was not shown.
In the end, it seems that Fubang is even proposing a proposal to improve the foreign system at this time. If the agenda passes through the general meeting and is applied retroactively, or if the current 'clauses' are strictly adhered to, Buchanan will be most embarrassed. This is because all the processes for preparing for the season, such as using training facilities and participating in practice games, are tied under the authority of the team. Without the restoration of relations with Fubang, it is unclear whether to negotiate with a third club, let alone go to Thailand.
Buchanan, who was called the "king of fan service" and fighter on the mound during his time at Samsung, was greatly loved by Korean fans. But now in Taiwan, he is on the verge of becoming an "administrative mia" that has nothing to do with his grades. I wonder how Buchanan will solve the twisted thread between the coach's hasty words and the principle of the original team.
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*This content was translated by AI.
