Lee Jeong-hoo, virtually confirmed to be No. 1 in free agent pure field value
Matt Chapman agrees to contract with San Francisco
Lee Jeong-hoo (25), a starting outfielder for the Major League Baseball (MLB) San Francisco Giants, has a meal with the league’s top-class infielder Matt Chapman (30).
Citing sources, MLB.com reported on the 2nd (Korean time) that Chapman (30), who remained in the free agent (FA) market, agreed to a three-year contract with San Francisco worth a total of $54 million (about 72.1 billion won).
Chapman is a third baseman with the league’s best defense and won the American League (AL) Gold Glove Award in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. 스포츠 토토사이트
Last season, he played with Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) at the Toronto Blue Jays.
Chapman’s batting accuracy is somewhat poor, but he is a long hitter who hit double-digit home runs every season from 2017, when he debuted in MLB, to last year.
With the addition of Chapman, San Francisco greatly improved its team strength.
In addition, Lee Jeong-hoo, who was designated as the starting number one hitter for the new season, can expect a synergy effect with Chapman, who will play the role of a problem solver.
The contract size is lower than expected.
Chapman wanted a long-term contract worth more than $100 million, but MLB clubs did not make offers that met his expectations.
Chapman was unable to find a team until the exhibition games began, but decided to sign the contract right before the start of the regular season.
However, it is known that Chapman entered an opt-out clause (breaking the existing contract and signing a new free agent contract) in his contract.
MLB.com said, “Chapman can apply for free agency again after completing the 2024 and 2025 seasons.”
The salary for the 2024 season is $20 million, and if he does not opt out, he will receive $18 million in the 2025 season and $16 million in the 2026 season.
Chapman, who was considered one of the top free agent fielders, agreed to a contract worth $54 million, effectively confirming that Lee Jeong-hoo is the top player in MLB Stove League pure fielder contracts this winter.
Lee Jeong-hoo signed a six-year contract with San Francisco worth a total of $113 million.
The first place in total free agent total is Shohei Otani (10 years, $700 million), who also bats, and the second place is right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12 years, $325 million, Los Angeles Dodgers).
Third place is right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola (7 years, $172 million, Philadelphia Phillies), and Lee Jeong-hoo is fourth.
However, there remains a possibility of a change in the rankings as Blake Snell, last season’s National League Cy Young Award winner, remains in the free agent market.
Chapman’s agent, Scott Boras, had his reputation tarnished when he signed Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs) to Chapman at a low price.
Bellinger, who was considered the biggest fielder in free agency, also held out without signing a contract until the 25th of last month, and then signed a three-year, $80 million contract with his original team, the Cubs, that included an opt-out. 슬롯게이밍