Elias is expected to finalize a contract with the Korea Baseball Organization's SSG Landers later this week, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.
The Landers have an opening on the roster for a foreign pitcher with Enny Romero battling a shoulder injury and having yet to pitch this season, and the KBO club appears to have set its sights on Elias to fill the opening. The 34-year-old lefty's ongoing negotiations with the Landers explain why the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate in Iowa placed Elias on its temporary inactive list over the weekend. After failing to win a spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Elias has proceeded to turn in a 5.48 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB across 21.1 innings with Iowa.