The Padres have extensively scouted and are expected to make a run at signing Korean left-hander Kwang-Hyun Kim when the negotiating period opens Friday.
Kim was made available via the posting process by his Korean team, SK Wyverns.
The Padres won the rights to negotiate with Kim in 2014, the only other time he was available via what was then a posting system that awarded rights to the highest bidder in a “blind” bid. The sides were unable to reach an agreement in ’14, and Kim returned to the Korean Baseball Organization.
Under the new system, all 30 major league teams can negotiate with a posted player.