“He represents our team. I will do my best.”
“We’ve only met once so far. Even in the meeting, there was no offer on the size of the contract.”
They looked at the same place. However, no progress has been made until the end of the season. Players have requested non-FA multi-year contracts since last winter, which is regrettable. However, their value has grown further amid regret. If they appear in the FA market, chances are high that they will sign the largest contract ever. Choi Jeong (37), the most home run hitter in the history of the KBO League who is set to become an FA, is about to finish the 2024 season on the 1st.
SSG is in urgent need. Unfortunately, the season is over, but we cannot afford to just be disappointed. The season is over because the team failed to meet six out-counts at the two-point lead in the final match for fifth place, but we should immediately look ahead to 2025.
This is especially true considering Choi Jung, who can exercise his FA status about a month later. It is not surprising that the uniforms of franchise superstars on the FA market will change, as Choi Hyung-woo, Kang Min-ho, Na Sung-beom and Son Ah-seop did.
SSG’s task for the next month is to remain Choi Jung. Before Choi Jung is announced as a free agent, it is necessary to press Choi Jung on a multi-year contract. Just as he signed a multi-year contract with Moon Seung-won, Park Jong-hoon and Han Yu-seom, if he holds onto the market before entering the market, the variable of “Choi Jung transfer” will disappear. As soon as a total of 495 home run batter hits the first 500 home runs in the KBO league, he will also become an SSG Landers. 안전놀이터
The SSG team is also aware of the importance of Choi’s stay. “Choi Jung is the symbol of our team,” SSG general manager Kim Jae-hyun said on Tuesday. “I will do my best (to sign a contract ahead of the FA). I will do my best to sign a multi-year contract.” Asked if he had negotiated a multi-year contract with Choi Jung so far, Kim said, “We met once. We will continue to see each other. Wouldn’t we be making progress as we continue to see each other?”
In fact, this is the beginning. Agent Choi Jeong also said he met with an SSG official in the middle of last month. However, there was no actual negotiation.
“I was contacted by SSG to meet him. It was after Chuseok. We met once. There was no suggestion on the size of the contract even when we met,” Choi said. “It was meaningless. We requested negotiations on multi-year contracts from last winter. However, so far, there is no significant negotiation. I hope that the club will proceed with the process with sincerity, rather than filling the number of meetings to build justification.”
The deadline is clear. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) will announce the players who have become free agents within five days after the end of the Korean Series. If SSG had not signed a multi-year contract with Choi, it would have effectively entered the market. As there are other teams besides SSG that are interested in Choi, infinite competition is inevitable once it enters the market. It is natural that a team that seeks to upgrade its batting lineup covets Choi.
Just by looking at his performances this year, he is a good example. He played in 129 games and recorded a batting average of 0.291, 37 homers, 107 RBIs and an OPS of 0.978. He is still the best right-handed hitter in the league, and plays the best defense in the third base. Choi also saved SSG, which is on the verge of ending its season early. At the match against Kiwoom in Munhak, the 144th game, he made three hits and six RBIs, including two homers. He also led the team’s offense by having two hits, including a home run, in a game to rank fifth for the first time with KT.
Choi Jeong also plays a significant role in SSG’s future plans. We aggressively recruited young players this year and produced some results. Starting with Cho Byung-hyun, infielder Jeong Joon-jae, and Park Ji-hwan proved that they can play key roles in the Cheongna era.
However, young players cannot rebuild the team. Veteran players should serve as pillars in the rebuilding process. New and old harmony is needed to complete the rebuilding process. “There is no artificial rebuilding. It should be done naturally. We will be a team where young players are constantly rising amid the natural trend,” Kim said.
In fact, there is not much the club can do. A large player like Choi Jung has to be moved by the parent group. Like most of the large FA contracts, the parent group has to apply to the club to sign a contract.
The next month is a very important SSG. This is true considering the next season as well as the Cheongdorm era, which starts in 2028. Whether the Choi Jung’s uniform number “14” can remain in Cheongdorm forever. It will be decided within the next month.
