Outfielders Kwon Hee-dong (32) and Lee Myung-ki (35), who came out to the FA market, are in danger of losing their children. The original team, NC, classifies the two players as out of power and is open to signing and trading, but time is running out as the team they want does not come out.
NC is overflowing with outfield resources. Along with Park Gun-woo and Son Ah-seop, who were brought in from the free agent market a year ago, a new foreign hitter also recruited Jason Martin as an outfielder. There are also plenty of outfield resources to support starting lineup Kim Seong-wook, who completed military service in Sangmu, Han Seok-hyun, former futures league batting king who was recruited as a futures free agent, and Oh Jang-han, a second-year home run king in the futures league.
Kwon Hee-dong and Lee Myung-gi, who stood in controversy last summer for violating the corona quarantine rules, were suspended for a total of 97 games 메이저놀이터 (KBO 72 games, the club itself 25 games) and the disciplinary action was lifted in May this year. Both were career lows, probably due to a gap in practice for nearly a year.
Not only in NC, but also in the league as a whole, the outfielder is the most resourceful and replaceable position. It is also a position mostly occupied by foreign hitters. Excluding Hanwha, which has been struggling to foster outfielders for several years, the nine teams have ample outfield resources from starters to backups. In other words, Hanwha is the only team that Kwon Hee-dong and Lee Myeong-gi can go to.
Kwon Hee-dong or Lee Myeong-gi can only move when Hanwha moves. Hanwha has filled the limit of 3 outside free agents by recruiting Chae Eun-seong, Lee Tae-yang, and Oh Seon-jin, but signings and trades are made after contracts with the original team, so recruitment is possible regardless of this.
Hanwha has been the team with the lowest outfield productivity since 2020. I tried to nurture myself with a full rebuild, but it didn’t work out as I wanted. In the end, Chae Eun-seong was recruited in the free agency market with a huge amount of up to 9 billion won for 6 years. Chae Eun-seong played as a first baseman for LG this year, but next year, he will increase his role as a right fielder, his original position.
A new foreign hitter is also recruited as a player who can play all positions in the outfield and even first base, but there is still no owner left. Given the current composition, if Kwon Hee-dong or Lee Myung-gi come in, the starting line in the outfield will be a good fit. Hanwha also keeps open the possibility of signing and trading Kwon Hee-dong, but is not active. Kwon Hee-dong’s grades are on the decline, and he cannot overlook the age of 33 next year.
It may be an unconditional signing and trade, but if you want a player or rookie nomination right in NC, there is no reason for Hanwha to go first. If you have a solid history like Chae Eun-seong, you can take blood loss, but the current value of Kwon Hee-dong or Lee Myung-gi is not.
There is also an opinion that at least one spot should be given to internal players rather than relying only on external recruitment. There are players who have shown potential in their own way, although they have not lived up to expectations over the past few years. Opening a space for young outfield resources to grow can also be an internal motivator, including Jang Jin-hyeok, Jang Un-ho, Lee Jin-young, Lee Won-seok, Yoo-gyeol, Kwon Kwang-min, Yoo Sang-bin, and Choi In-ho, who will be discharged from the executive directorship in June next year. Veteran Noh Soo-gwang is also a reserve free agent and is in desperate need of a rebound than ever.
Kwon Hee-dong and Lee Myung-ki are the only team that can go to Hanwha, but Hanwha doesn’t feel very attractive right away. The rebuilding process and keynote that has been going on for the past few years cannot be completely demolished. There is room for change depending on the market situation, but at present, internal development and competition are drawing a rough sketch of the remaining outfield spot.