Big news! 'Former Hanwha' Weiss, returning to Daejeon? → U.S. reporter: "HOU option non-exercise confirmed"

*This content was translated by AI.

The possibility of Ryan Weiss (30), the "premium foreign investor" who led the Hanwha Eagles to the Korea Series in the 2025 season, returning to Daejeon is increasingly looking likely based on current circumstances. A report from a prominent local journalist indicated that his current team, the Houston Astros, will waive their club option for the 2027 season.

Javier Gonzalez, a reporter affiliated with "Pelota Cubana USA" who exclusively covers Houston, pointed out on his social media on the 7th (Korean time), "Houston holds a one-year extension option in Weiss's contract." He then added, "However, Weiss is not currently included in the 40th-man roster, and the team will clearly not exercise this player's option." He predicted that Houston would decline to extend the contract renewal option they hold.

In the 2025 season with the KBO League Hanwha Eagles, Weiss posted a dominant record of 16 wins and 5 losses in 30 games (178⅔ innings), with an ERA of 2.87 and 207 strikeouts. After joining as a replacement foreign player for the 2024 season and transforming into a perfect ace, he drove his team to the Korea Series before confidently returning to the Major League stage.

Ahead of this season, Weiss signed a "1+1 year" contract with Houston. The deal included a guaranteed one-year salary of $2.6 million (approximately 3.5 billion won) and a 2027 club option worth $5 million (approximately 6.7 billion won). If the team refuses to exercise the option, Weiss is structured to receive a buyout payment of $500,000 (approximately 700 million won). It seemed like a natural progression for the option to be exercised if Weiss proved his competitiveness in the Major Leagues.

However, the wall of the Major Leagues was high. He stepped onto the mound of the dream Major Leagues for the first time in his life, but the glorious moment was short. In this season's nine Major League appearances (two as a starter), he pitched 26 innings with no wins, three losses, and an ERA of 7.62. He allowed eight home runs and 20 walks, causing his WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) to soar to 2.12. Although he recorded 30 strikeouts, overall unstable control held him back.

Ultimately, he was placed on the disabled list (DFA) on June 13 last month and, failing to be claimed by another team, remained in Triple-A of the minor leagues after being removed from the 40th-man roster. In Triple-A, he recorded a record of 5 wins, 5 losses, 1 save, and 1 hold with an ERA of 5.42 in 22 games (13 as a starter).

However, Weiss's position became even more precarious after his lack of competitiveness at the Major League level was confirmed, and Dana Brown, the general manager who had signed him, effectively received notice of dismissal last August.

Houston's postseason journey ended on the 1st with a loss to the Chicago White Sox. The team appears to have begun roster cleanup operations. Other local media outlets are also pessimistic about the possibility of Weiss joining Houston for the 2027 season. From Houston's perspective, if they pay the $500,000 buyout and waive the 2027 season option, Weiss is set to become an immediate free agent (FA).

Consequently, attention naturally turns to his "former team," Hanwha. Under KBO League regulations, Hanwha holds a five-year waiver right over Weiss, meaning that if he returns to Korea, he can only wear the Hanwha uniform. Hanwha also does not appear to be averse to this situation. It is highly intriguing whether the ace who performed at his best while receiving the passionate support of Daejeon fans will return to the mound of the Eagles squad.

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*This content was translated by AI.