As soon as the FA market began, two FA agreed to a contract from day one.
The first contractor was an unexpected player. Veteran pitcher Woo Kyu-min (39) became the first FA contractor this winter. Choi Jung (37), who predicted the announcement of the contract on the 6th when the FA market will be held on the 4th, became the second contractor.
KT Wiz signed an FA contract with Woo Kyu-min for a two-year total of 700 million won on the afternoon of the 6th. The contract was announced first on the condition of a down payment of 200 million won, an annual salary of 400 million won and an option of 100 million won.
This is the third FA contract for Woo Kyu-min, who joined the LG Twins in 2003. Having recorded 10 wins for three consecutive years in the 2013-2015 season, Woo acquired his first FA license after finishing the 2016 season and signed a four-year, 6.5 billion won contract with Samsung. He played as a starting pitcher in the first year after moving to Samsung, but changed his position to a bullpen pitcher in the second year. He signed a second FA contract worth up to 1 billion won per year with Samsung after the 2020 season ended. He recorded double-digit holds for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2022.
Woo Kyu-min had a 4.81 ERA with 3 wins, 1 loss and 13 holds in 56 games in the 2023 season, but he moved to KT in the second draft after the end of the season. In 45 games (43 ⅓ innings) at KT this year, he rebounded with 4 wins, 1 loss, 1 save, 4 holds, and an ERA of 2.49. Woo Kyu-min, who succeeded in making a comeback, won his third FA contract worth a total of 700 million won in the 40- to 41-year-old season.
“Woo Kyu-min, who has ample experience as a veteran pitcher, is an essential player who has contributed to the management of pitchers this season based on his outstanding ball control,” KT’s general manager Na Do-hyun said. “I expect him to serve as a waist for pitchers in the next season as well.”
Woo Kyu-min said, “I am grateful to the club for providing an opportunity to spend two more years with good coaches, coaches and players at the end of my career. As much as I am grateful for this opportunity, I want to contribute to the team’s advance to the Korean Series next year.”
About 30 minutes after Woo Kyu-min’s contract was announced, news of Choi Jeong’s FA contract was reported. SSG said, “I signed a four-year total of 11 billion won (down payment of 3 billion won, annual salary of 8 billion won, no option).”
It is a full guarantee contract. Choi was treated as a “life-time SSG” with 11 billion contracts without options during the 38-41-year-old season. Choi, who joined the SK Wyverns as a first choice in 2005, will be able to continue his active career until 2028 through this contract, and will also play as an SSG player when the Blue Dragon Open is opened in 2028.
Choi Jeong-eun has set a new history as a free agent in the KBO League. She opened the era of 30 billion won (30 million U.S. dollars) for the first time as a free agent at the end of the 2014 season. It was Choi’s highest record as a free agent at the time. She won the Korean Series title in 2018, acquired the second free agent status, and signed a six-year contract of 10.6 billion won (approx. Choi Jeong became the third free agent this time, posting a cumulative total of 30.2 메이저사이트 billion won (approx.
It exceeded 27.7 billion won (KRW 12.5 billion for four years with NC in 2019 and KRW 15.2 billion for six years with Doosan in 2023), which was the accumulated total amount of FA contracts.
Choi Jeong has played in 2,293 games for 20 seasons until this season and has a career batting average of 288, 2,269 hits (6th in total), 495 homers (1st), 4,197 hits (1st), 1,561 RBIs (2nd), 1,461 runs (1st), 1,037 walks (5th), and 348 pitches (1st).
After signing the FA contract, Choi Jeong said, “I’ve been growing up since I was a rookie, and I’m most attached to this team. I’m glad that the contract went well. I feel good. I want to apologize to the fans who have waited for a long time because it took a long time to negotiate, and I’ll play hard for the team during the contract period.”
Choi Jeong-eun said, “I really hope we can go over 500 home runs next year, and the bigger goal is 600 home runs. I will set the goal of 600 home runs rather than 500 home runs and play hard,” adding, “I want to win the title of home run king once more. And I think there are a lot of players who are good at the third base position these days, but I want to spend a more competitive season and receive another Golden Glove. And before going to Cheongna, I will do my best to win another championship in literature.”
KBO announced 20 players as FA-approved players in 2025 on the 5th. Except for Woo Kyu-min and Choi Jung, there are 18 players including KIA Lim Ki-young, Jang Hyun-sik, Seo Geon-chang, Samsung Ryu Ji-hyuk, Kim Heon-gon, LG Choi Won-tae, Doosan Kim Kang-ryul, Huh Kyung-min, KT Um Sang-baek, Shim Woo-joon, SSG Noh Kyung-eun, Lotte Koo Seung-min, Kim Won-joong, Hanwha Ha Joo-seok, NC Lee Yong-chan, Lim Jung-ho, Kim Sung-wook and Kiwoom Moon Sung-hyun.
By grade, three A-grade players (Choi Won-tae, Kim Won-joong, Koo Seung-min), nine B-grade players (Im Ki-young, Jang Hyun-sik, Ryu Ji-hyuk, Heo Kyung-min, Um Sang-baek, Shim Woo-joon, and Noh Kyung-chan) and six C-grade players (Seo Geon-chang, Kim Heon-gon, Kim Kang-ryul, Lim Jung-ho, Kim Sung-wook, and Moon Sung-hyun) are under FA contract. Who will share the news of the third contract.
