The race to sign Lee Jung-hoo (Kiwoom Heroes) appears to be heating up into a three-way battle. The San Francisco Giants are considered the frontrunners, with the New York Mets in the East and the San Diego Padres in the West.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, reported on Monday (Sept. 9) that the Mets and Padres are in desperate need of outfield reinforcements, and Lee is a good option.
“The Mets currently have only three full-time outfielders on the 40-man roster who can be utilized in the big leagues next season,” MLB.com said, adding that adding an outfielder is a must.
According to MLB.com, the Mets have two options. “The Mets are rumored to be linked to Michael A. Taylor (Minnesota Twins), an elite center fielder who could push Brandon Nimmo into the corner,” MLB.com reported. South Korean free agent Jung-Hoo Lee is another option to fill that role.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said, “Adding an outfielder is a no-brainer.” However, the Mets are reportedly focused on signing Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Padres traded away two of their starting outfielders (Juan Soto and Trent Grisham). In sending them to the New York Yankees, they received four pitchers and a catcher, leaving the outfield empty.
MLB.com wrote, “Without Soto and Grisham, the Padres outfield has only one starter, Fernando Tatis Jr. There is a possibility of signing Lee Jung-hoo, who is close friends with Kim. The two would be a good fit and could free up salary cap space.
San Francisco is the club that has followed Lee the longest. S.F. general manager Pete Putilla traveled to South Korea last October to watch Lee play in person. 아톰카지노 도메인
From 10 p.m. on Dec. 5 until 7 a.m. on Jan. 4, Lee will be free to negotiate with all 30 major league clubs.
Several local media outlets estimate Lee’s price tag to be at least $10 million (approximately 13 billion won) per year. ESPN estimated five years and $63 million (about 82.3 billion won), Major League Traders (MTR) estimated five years and $50 million, and The Athletic estimated four years and $56 million (about $73 billion).