Even the franchise pitcher remained. NC’s free agency market, which had to face internal free agents as a ‘previous level’, seems to end as it is.
NC announced on the 16th that it had signed a contract with pitcher Lee Jae-hak (32) for a contract period of 2+1 years and a maximum of 900 million won. The details of the contract are 550 million won for two years and a total option of 350 million won, including execution of the third year contract.
Lee Jae-hak moved from Doosan to NC in the 2nd draft held in 2011. NC’s founding members have grown into pitchers representing the franchise.
He left a strong footprint, including the team’s first win, first complete game, first shutout, first rookie of the year, and first 10 wins in domestic selection. In the 2013-2016 season, they won double-digit victories for four consecutive years. So far this year, he has won 76 wins in NC. He is the team’s most winning pitcher.
Above all, I am now one of the few remaining founding members who are breathing together with the history of the club. NC general manager Lim Seon-nam said, “I am happy to continue making history with Lee Jae-hak, who shared important moments such as our club’s first win, first complete game, and first rookie award. As a senior on the team, he expects to play a significant role in making NC stronger outside of baseball as well as on the ground.”
Lee Jae-hak also said, “It feels so good to be able to continue playing for the NC Dinos, which I have been with since the foundation. I will prepare well so that I can show you a better image than the good times in the past with the mindset of starting anew.”
The contract with the internal free agents, which reached the last seven people who signed Lee Jae-hak’s contract, is also in the mood to be terminated. A total of 7 free agents came to the market: catcher Yang Eui-ji, infielders Noh Jin-hyuk and Park Min-woo, pitchers Won Jong-hyeon and Lee Jae-hak, and outfielders Lee Myung-ki and Kwon Hee-dong. 토토
It is difficult to call NC’s FA market a success. Yang Eui-ji, the largest fish catcher who was the center of the team’s power and the main player in the combined victory, and the number one player in negotiations, failed to remain. He signed a 4+2 year, 15.2 billion won contract with Doosan, his parent’s home, and returned it. It creaked from the first button.
Infielder Noh Jin-hyuk also left after signing a four-year, five-billion-won contract with Lotte, a local rival club. Pitcher Won Jong-hyun, who played a pivotal role in the bullpen, also wore a Kiwoom uniform for 4 years and 2.5 billion won. The total ransom of the players who left was 22.7 billion won.
But it wasn’t just leaks. Another founding member, infielder Park Min-woo, was stamped for up to 14 billion won for 5+3 years and left. And I even finished the contract with Jaehak Lee. It was a FA market that did not go as planned, but the outflow was minimized.
Outfielders Lee Myeong-gi and Kwon Hee-dong still remain. However, the door to remaining NC is no different from being closed. In fact, NC has no intention of contracting with Lee Myung-gi and Kwon Hee-dong.
Han Seok-hyeon, who was the ‘2nd team hitting king’, was recruited as a free agent by Futures, and young resources such as Oh Jang-han, Cheon Jae-hwan, and Kim Seong-wook, who was discharged from Sangmu, are ready. Jason Martin, who will replace Nick Martini, is also a resource in center field. Veteran key players such as Park Kun-woo and Son Ah-seop are in good health. I can’t afford to give both players a chance.
There is no restriction on transfer because Lee Myung-gi is a C grade and there is no compensation player. However, market interest is on the cold side. Kwon Hee-dong has an obstacle in his transfer. When recruiting another club as a B grade FA, one compensation player in addition to the 25 compensation players must be given. Signing and trading can be considered to reduce the burden on compensated players, but it seems that the contract is not in a situation where it will be concluded easily.
NC’s FA market report card is difficult to give a passing score right away. But it was clear that it was difficult. In this way, NC’s all-time FA market is also ending.