“He’s a dedicated player. Of course, I’ll go with him.”
These days, players who have qualified as FA for the “chance of a big hit” are in the spotlight.
Some players, however, feel lonely now. In particular, they were qualified as free agents but couldn’t apply.
There are reasons why. Some players are so sluggish right before the FA that they want to see a better performance and make a big hit again. Or, if they apply for the FA prematurely and they are in danger of becoming a “mia” due to the hateful hair embedded in the club, some people seek to continue their careers through a single-year contract without applying for the FA. This is the case when they are cool-headed and grasp the reality of the league.
It is common to see veteran players not applying for free agency. Lee Yong-kyu is one of them. He enjoyed his splendid heyday and secured a 6.7 billion won (6.1 million U.S. dollars) contract. However, he will turn 40 next year. He is not at an age when he can aim for a “jackpot.” His career itself is amazing.
He played in only 60 games this season. He is giving young players opportunities. Still, he made the first team when his team was in a difficult situation, and displayed good performance. He gained unique contact skills. He also hit one homer with a batting average of .360. He fractured his toe while playing well in the first team in August, which was painful. Dawson, a foreign player, was seriously injured when he collided with himself while playing defense in the outfield, and even before he could overcome the pain, he was seriously injured. However, considering that he showed extreme slump in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, 2024 was a season that expressed hope.
Then, what will happen to Lee Yong-kyu who failed to apply for free agency? “If it weren’t for his injury, he would have continued to perform well. He is a player who has dedicated himself to the team. Our club does not neglect honoring veteran players,” Kiwoom’s general manager Ko Hyung-wook said, expressing his intention to continue accompanying Lee. 안전놀이터
Regarding the FA, general manager Ko said, “The club and the player moved on quietly without saying anything,” indicating that the club did not express any intention at the player’s judgment.
Lee Yong-kyu’s annual salary this year was 200 million won. “In the case of annual salary, it will be set according to the club’s performance system,” Ko said. Lee Yong-kyu’s annual salary fell to 200 million won due to sluggish performance in the past two seasons, and from records, annual salary adjustment may be inevitable.
Lee, who had 2,100 hits in the early days of this season, said, “My last goal in my professional career is to play in 2,000 games and 400 steals. I have achieved my goal with 2021 games. I have four steals left. I have 396 steals in my career. If I prepare well for the season, I can set this goal, too. If that happens, I will be able to make my name as the player who will record 2,000 games to 2,000 hits to 400 steals in the second game after Jeon Joon-ho.
