Taiwanese left-hander Wang Yen-cheng won 10 games in his first season in the KBO, sending his market value soaring. That is good news for the player, but a problem for the Hanwha Eagles, who want to keep him.

• Wang joined Hanwha this year on a US$100,000 annual salary and became the first Asian import player in KBO history to win 10 games in a single season.
• Hanwha wants to retain him under the cheaper Asian import quota, but the US$300,000 salary cap no longer matches his value.
• The player's side may ask to be signed under a regular foreign-player slot instead, and the gap between the two price levels is considerable.
• The KBO's reserve rights system makes matters more complicated: once a club holds reserve rights, the player cannot move to another KBO club within five years without its consent.
• Hanwha's ideal scenario is to replicate the Kelly model, spending a few seasons in the KBO before making a run at the major leagues.

Outlook: The off-season contract negotiations will be decisive. If Wang Yen-cheng does not secure foreign-player-level terms, the risk of his departure rises.