SSG is negotiating with Choi Jeong, 37, who will be released as a free agent after the end of the 2024 season, on the table with specific contract terms. Judging that a non-FA multi-year contract is also possible, the club is focusing its efforts on this negotiation. It is said that the player did not show any negative reaction to the club’s proposal. For now, they are looking at the same place from similar perspective and continuing the discussion.
“Choi Jeong-eun is a player that the club must catch. We are negotiating with the idea that we will never send it to another team,” SSG General Manager Kim Jae-hyun said on the phone with Sports Kyunghyang on the 11th. 스포츠토토
Choi Jung-eun is a franchise star of SSG, who has played as a one-club man for 20 seasons since joining SK (currently SSG) with the first designation of the 2005 KBO Rookie Draft, and is a representative slugger who has recorded the most home runs in KBO. After the end of the 2014 season, he first became an FA and remained at a maximum of 8.6 billion won for four years, and after the end of the 2018 season, he became a second FA and remained in Incheon for up to 10.6 billion won for six years. This season was the last year of the second FA.
Choi Jeong publicly expressed his positive intention for a non-FA multi-year contract earlier this year. When asked about the third FA, he honestly said, “A non-FA multi-year contract would be good,” when he met with reporters at the “SSG Fan Festival” held in Songdo, Incheon in January. However, progressive discussions did not come and go during the season. SSG, which finished the season by losing the 5th place match with KT on the 1st, later met with Choi Jeong and began full-fledged negotiations.
Currently, the terms and conditions of the contract, including the period and amount that the club thinks of, have been passed on to the players. The contract period is reportedly a four-year guarantee and the total amount is more than 10 billion won. Regarding the amount of the offer, Kim explained, “We should consider it in the triple digits (10 billion won) or more.”
SSG is trying to keep Choi, who will turn 38 next year, not just because of his symbolism. Choi has posted a batting average of 0.291, 38 homers, 107 RBIs and an OPS of 0.978 in 129 games this year. As the team’s main third baseman, he played 954.2 innings, showing off his robustness in defense as well. Expectations are high that Choi, who earned the nickname “the epitome of steadiness” by recording double-digit homers for 19 consecutive years, will not see his skills decline sharply.
For SSG, the best scenario is to conclude the contract with Choi Jeong before the FA market opens. This is because unexpected variables may occur in the process of contacting other clubs. Choi Jeong, the third FA this time, is classified as C grade, which does not generate compensation players in the FA rating system. Not only is the player’s value high, but the bleeding from recruitment is relatively small, so other clubs will be more attractive.
General manager Kim said, “There are both possibilities,” but added, “We should continue to meet and negotiate, but I think a non-FA multi-year contract is also possible.”
