Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom Heroes) is set to sign a five-year, $63 million contract, according to local reports.
ESPN, an American sports publication, released the estimated salaries of 50 players in the free agency market on Tuesday (June 10). According to the publication, Lee is ranked 14th in the free agent rankings and is expected to receive a five-year, $63 million contract. He is expected to sign a contract averaging $12.5 million per year.
According to ESPN, “Lee is a player most teams consider a starter. His young age is also attractive. He’s not a slugger, but he’s a hitter with some power. He can also play center field. He’s ranked higher because of his age and position,” he said, explaining why Lee was ranked higher.
“He could prioritize a short-term contract to become a free agent sooner, but a team could offer him a six-year deal,” he said, adding that he expects the contract to last for a year.
Lee is one of the best hitters in the KBO. Last year, he won five batting titles, including batting average (0.349), on-base percentage (0.421), slugging percentage (0.575), hits (193), and RBIs (113), and was named MVP. He hasn’t played much this season due to an ankle injury, but major league clubs are interested in him.
The jury is still out on Lee. Injuries won’t stop him from reaching the major leagues. Multiple teams, including the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees, are reportedly very interested in signing him. In particular, the San Francisco Giants even sent their general manager Putilla to Gocheok SkyDome to see Lee. 토토사이트
The local media is also interested in Lee. ESPN predicted that Lee would sign a five-year, $63 million contract, while MLB Traderumors, which reports on the major league transfer market, estimated $50 million. American sports publication The Athletic predicted four years and $56 million, and CBS Sports predicted six years and $90 million.
ESPN, meanwhile, pegged Ryu’s deal at two years and $14 million. “Ryu was expected to sign a one-year, short-term deal, but he has averaged 88.8 mph over the past two seasons. Despite appearing in just 17 games over that span, teams looking for starting pitching will want to sign him to a multi-year deal,” explaining that Ryu will continue his career in the majors.
