Star Park Gyeong-wan

‘Free Agent (FA) Market’ Opened.

Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced 15 baseball players including Park Gyeong-wan(Hyundai) as FA-qualified player. Among them, 7 baseball players including Lee Gwang-wu(LG) and Han Yong-deok (Hanwha) had the FA qualification from last year and remaining 8 players have newly acquired ‘FA’ this year.

Among 8 players, the most interested ‘great figure’, Park Gyeong-wan(Hyundai, 30) won ‘MVP’ by recording 40 home runs this year.

He didn’t do very well with a batting average of 0.203, 19 home runs and 42 runs for the year, but he has one of the best players with a strong shoulder, skilled pitching lead and a hitting power. SK acting manager, Jo Beom-hyeon is expecting him too much but Ahn Yong-tae, SK president showed no interest in a proposal of the acting manager.

If Park Gyeong-wan appears in the FA market after a negotiation with Hyundai was broken off, he could break a historical FA condition of KRW 2.32 billion for 4 years, a record of Yang Jun-hyeok (Samsung).

Jeong Jae-Ho, head of Hyundai said “Some baseball teams have a basic policy in taking Park Gyeong-Wan continuously. So, they will adjust their opinions.”

There is any other star player except Park Gyeong-Wan. Ahn Gyeong-hyeon(Doosan) and Lee Jong-yeol(LG) are the stable infielders, but are not the big players. ‘Small Tank’ of Lotte, Park Jeong-tae is in a declining condition.

Among FAs, Yeom Jong-seok (Lotte), Kim Eung-guk(Lotte) and Oh Bong-ok(Kia) already contracted with their belong teams. The FA market turned cold last year, but it is forecasted that the re-contract will increase this year.

After FA applies to KBO for an approval by November 22, it must make the negotiation with present baseball teams within 14 days. If the contract is not made, it can freely negotiate with 7 remaining teams.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com