Brian Burres to pitch in Taiwan

A number of former MLB players have inked contracts with pro clubs in Japan and South Korea this winter, but we've yet to have anyone strike a deal with a Taiwanese club. Until now, that is.

Former Orioles and Pirates' left-hander Brian Burres has signed a contract with the Lamigo Monkeys, a squad in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports:

LHP Brian Burres has signed to pitch in Taiwan with the Lamigo Monkeys, according to his agent, Marc Kligman.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 5, 2013

The 31-year-old Burres has six seasons of big-league experience to his credit, but last appeared in the pros in 2011 with the Bucs. The southpaw spent the 2012 season back with the club that drafted him -- the San Francisco Giants -- but was unable to pitch his way out of Triple-A, where he posted a 5.40 ERA in 98⅓ innings.

Burres took the mound for the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Pirates during his six-year MLB tenure but never had much success, amassing a 5.75 ERA and 1.40 K/BB ratio in just over 350 innings work overall.

While things haven't been great for Burres at this point in his career, Lamigo took home its first Taiwan Series title last season, so perhaps the left-hander has a championship in his near future.