'Former Samsung' Buchanan Breaches Regulations → Taiwan League Contract Is Not Available Until February "will Be Clear in March.""

*This content was translated by AI.

David Buchanan (37), who plays as an ace for the Samsung Lions in the KBO League and is familiar to domestic baseball fans, is expected to be determined only by March. This is because the contract was not possible within February because it violated the Taiwan Professional Baseball (CPBL) regulations.

Taiwanese media TSNA said on the 10th, "The situation surrounding Buchanan is expected to become clear only by March. This is because the rights of the Fubang Guardians, which has Buchanan's right to hold the contract, will remain in place until February 28. However, he said, "The CPBL club, Taigang Hawks, is very interested in Buchanan, so he is expected to play in Taiwan in the 2026 season."

According to the report, Buchanan is tied to CPBL regulations and cannot sign an official contract with any club except the original club, the Fubang Guardians, until the end of February. According to the CPBL regulations, foreign players included on the registration list on August 31 of the previous year will have priority negotiation rights by February 28 of the following year.

But controversy arose. It began on January 10 when Hong Lee-joong, head coach of the new team Taigang Hawks, made a statement to the effect that "Buccananan is a candidate for recruitment" during an interview. In response, the original team Fubang immediately protested, saying, "I have never written a transfer agreement," and the CPBL secretariat immediately launched an investigation. If the violation of the regulations is finally confirmed, the club will be fined, and the players may be subject to sanctions such as a ban on contracts for a certain period of time.

This put Buchanan's future in a "forced lull" until Feb. 28. With all four foreign pitchers unable to renew their contracts with Fubang, Buchanan will not be able to make an official move until March 1 when the right to negotiate expires. The Tygang Hawks have already started their spring camp schedule to prepare for the 2026 season, but they are said to be leaving Buchanan's position empty.

Buchanan, who signed with Fubang during the season in June 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. The innings are also 64 ⅔, with an average of well over five innings per game. Although there was only one victory, it can be interpreted that it was a bit unfortunate because the WHIP (on-base allowance per inning) was not a bad record of 1.27.

Locally, the possibility of Buchanan becoming "Mia" was raised, but Tygang Hawks seem to be waiting for Buchanan. In Taiwan, Buchanan is also unlikely to return to the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) or KBO League. In the end, Buchanan's 2026 season is not expected to begin until "March of Destiny." The opening game of the CPBL will be held on March 28.

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*This content was translated by AI.