Seo Jae-weong Unlikely to be in Starting Rotation of New York Mets

Seo Byeong-gwan, father of New York Mets’ pitcher Seo Jae-weong, seemed surprisingly cool after hearing the news that Pedro Martinez’s signing with the New York Mets is imminent on Tuesday.

“Jae-weong has gone through hard times in the last seven years in the U.S.,” the father said. “It will be such a pity if he gives up his dream and comes back to Korea at this point, because he will be eligible to file for salary arbitration next year.”

“If there is no spot left for Jae-weong in the starting rotation after the acquisition of Martinez, he can play on another team,” Seo Beyong-gwan said. He said that Seo Jae-weong has already notified the team of his willingness to be traded, and he hopes to hear a positive outcome. “After training camp in the southern coast, we have already told the Kia Tigers that Jae-weong has no intention of playing for the Tigers at this moment,” he said.

Seo Jae-weong is currently training in Sokcho Commercial High School, where his elder brother Jae-hwan is coaching the baseball team. The brother said that Jae-weong is having a hard time right now, but it is certain that he still has a strong desire to play in the big leagues.

Seo’s agent Kim Kyung-hoon said that Seo’s case is different from the circumstances under which Lee Sang-hoon and Cho Jin-ho were put when they decided to come back to the Korean baseball league. The Mets would not easily give up on Seo, as Seo is tempting enough to be used as a trade card, Kim added.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Martinez closed in on a $56 million, four-year contract with the New York Mets. Boston Red Sox President Larry Lucchino said that Martinez was a great member of the Red Sox team for seven years, and that he is disappointed to have lost Martinez to the Mets and the National League, reported the AP.

With the addition of Martinez, the Metz now have Tom Glavine, Steve Trachsel, Kris Benson, and Victor Zambrano in the rotation.

Hwan Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com