It was known that Dan Straily would be looking to return to the majors at some point. He had expressed a desire to retire stateside, getting a chance to pitch in front of his children now that they would be old enough to remember. It was just a matter of when that time would come.
That time could be this year. Straily has reportedly turned down an opportunity to remain with the Lotte Giants and is a free agent once more, looking to return to the majors when the lockout ends.
After two very strong seasons in the KBO Pitcher Dan Straily declined the Lotte Giants offer for 2022 last week with the intention of returning to MLB. Straily is now a free agent and is eligible to sign with a team when the lockout ends.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) December 24, 2021
Dan Straily makes MLB intentions known
Straily had a strong two year run in the Korean Baseball Organization. He posted a 25-16 record with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.188 WHiP in his 360.1 innings, striking out 369 batters with 118 walks. While his first year in the KBO was much better than his second, he still performed well enough for the Giants to want to bring him back for a third year.
But Straily knows that time is not on his side if he wants to return to the majors. He is already 33 years old, and while he could get a guaranteed payday in South Korea, time is running out if he wants to return to the majors.
It is entirely possible that he can get that major league opportunity. Straily had been a solid back of the rotation arm previously, posting a 4.56 ERA and a 1.318 WHiP over his 803.1 innings. It is also possible that, having spent the past two years in the KBO, Straily has picked up some changes that could make him more effective stateside.
Dan Straily has his sights set on returning to the major leagues. In turning down an offer from the Lotte Giants, it is MLB or Bust for Straily.