Lee Jung-hoo got everything from the San Francisco Giants.
The deal is so good that local fans are asking, “Should they have gone this far?” Courtesy of Kiwoom Heroes
It was more than expected. $113 million (approximately KRW 14.84 billion).
Minor league veto. An opt-out after four years.
That’s what the San Francisco Giants got for 25-year-old Lee Jung-hoo.
It’s a good enough deal that local fans might ask, “ Should we really be signing him?”
However, MLB Network and CBS Sports released their projected San Francisco starting lineup for the 2024 season on Wednesday, with Lee’s name at the top of the batting order.
He is projected to play center field.
On the same day, MLB.com, the New York Post, and The Athletic reported, “
Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco.
The contract includes an opt-out clause after four years, which allows the club and player to terminate the contract by mutual agreement.”
Luis Matos started 76 games in center field for San Francisco, the most of any player, but hit just .250 with two home runs and 14 RBIs.
Bryce Johnson started 30 games in center field and Wade McClellan started 20 games, but both were disappointing.
Lee Jung-hoo’s bloodless entry into the infield. 토토
Before Lee even applied for the post, the Giants were actively pursuing him.
San Francisco general manager Pete Putteler even traveled to Seoul’s Gocheok Dome in October to watch Lee bat for the Kiwoom Heroes.
The Giants have made bolstering their infield a top priority in the offseason.
In 2023, the Giants’ middle infield had an OAA (Outs Above Average) of -13, ranking 28th out of 30 teams in the majors.
This year, the Giants didn’t have a “starter” in center field.
Luis Matos started the most games in center field (76), but hit just .
250 with two home runs and 14 RBIs.
Bryce Johnson started 30 games in center field and Wade McClure started 20 games in center field, but both were underwhelming.
Lee’s bloodless entry into the middle infield.
“Lee hit .340 in the KBO and a career-high .360 in one season (2021)
, and San Francisco believes the 25-year-old has the talent to make the Major League Baseball All-Star team,” ESPN wrote.
“The best-case scenario for the Giants is that unlike Kim,
who struggled in his first two seasons in the big leagues before rebounding to a .
749 OPS in his third year, Lee adjusts quickly to the big leagues,
posting an above-average OPS and a batting average near .300.”
Japanese media outlets such as Sports Nippon and Daily Sports also reported the news of Lee as a major story.
The Japanese media expressed surprise at the size of the deal.
Lee set a “new record,” surpassing Ryu Hyun-jin’s total Korean posting total
($36 million over six years with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013)
and Kim Ha-seong’s average posting salary ($28 million over four years with San Diego in 2021 – an average of $7 million per year).
