Chris Flexen, Zach Logue Head Back to KBO’s Doosan Bears After Journeyman MLB Stints
Chris Flexen is heading back to a familiar stage - the Korea Baseball Organization - where his career first found new life. The veteran right-hander has signed a guaranteed $1 million deal to return to the Doosan Bears, the team announced. He’ll be joined by left-hander Zach Logue, who re-signs with the club for $1.1 million after a strong debut season in South Korea.
For Flexen, this move is more than just a reunion - it’s a full-circle moment. The 31-year-old righty used his initial KBO stint in 2020 as a springboard back into Major League Baseball, where he carved out a productive stretch with the Seattle Mariners. That first go-round with Doosan saw him post a 3.01 ERA over 21 starts, showing enough polish and poise to earn a two-year, $4.75 million deal with Seattle - a contract that eventually grew to include an $8 million vesting option thanks to his solid performance.
During his 2021-22 run with the Mariners, Flexen was a dependable arm. He logged over 317 innings with a 3.66 ERA, using sharp command (6.8% walk rate) to offset a modest strikeout rate (16.5%). He wasn’t blowing hitters away, but he kept the ball in play and minimized damage - exactly what teams look for in a back-end starter.
But 2023 was a different story. Flexen’s ERA ballooned to 7.71 in 42 innings with Seattle, and the Mariners eventually cut ties.
He was traded to the Mets in a deal that was more financial maneuvering than baseball strategy - New York essentially absorbed his contract to acquire reliever Trevor Gott. Flexen never threw a pitch for the Mets and was released shortly after.
From there, it was a whirlwind. Flexen signed with the Rockies and was roughed up in 12 starts to close out 2023.
Still, he found another opportunity with the White Sox, who gave him a full season’s workload in 2024. Over 30 starts, he logged 160 innings with a 4.95 ERA - not dominant, but steady enough to hold down a rotation spot.
Then came a brief stint with the Cubs in 2025. Flexen put up a 3.09 ERA in 43 2/3 innings, but the peripherals told a different story.
His strikeout rate dipped to just 12.4%, and the Cubs ultimately released him in August. He didn’t catch on with another team before season’s end.
In all, Flexen turned his KBO resurgence into 147 more MLB appearances and over 623 innings of work, finishing his big league run with a 4.48 ERA and more than $15 million in career earnings. Now, he returns to Doosan with a chance to reset once again - and perhaps remind everyone why he was such a valuable innings-eater not so long ago.
Joining him in the Bears’ rotation is Zach Logue, who’s back for a second season after a highly effective 2025 campaign. Logue, who turns 30 in April, was a workhorse for Doosan, tossing 176 innings and posting a 2.81 ERA. He didn’t overpower hitters - his fastball has typically sat around 90 mph - but he thrived with command and ground-ball efficiency.
Logue struck out 21.6% of opposing hitters while walking just 5.4%, and his 53.8% ground-ball rate helped him navigate the hitter-friendly KBO landscape. That’s the kind of profile that plays well overseas - and it’s a far cry from his rocky MLB numbers.
Originally a ninth-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2017, Logue was dealt to Oakland as part of the Matt Chapman trade. He struggled in his lone season with the A’s in 2022, posting a 6.79 ERA over 57 innings.
Short stints with the Tigers and Dodgers followed, but he never quite found a foothold in the majors. Across 70 total MLB innings, Logue owns a 7.20 ERA with a 17.6% strikeout rate and a 6.9% walk rate.
Still, his success in Korea has kept the door open. While he explored a potential return to North America this offseason, the opportunity to build on his strong 2025 showing with Doosan proved too good to pass up. If he can sustain - or even improve upon - last year’s performance, it’s not out of the question that he could earn another shot at the majors down the line.
For now, both Flexen and Logue are set to anchor the Bears’ rotation in 2026 - two pitchers who’ve taken very different paths but found common ground in the KBO.