Free Agency Looms for Choi Hee-seop

Within two years, will this be the third time Choi Hee-seop switches teams?

It is being predicted that 26-year-old Choi Hee-seop will leave the Los Angeles Dodgers. Major League Baseball’s official website classified eight players, including Choi Hee-seop and Cory Paterson of the Chicago Cubs, as “expected non-tenders.”

A non-tendered designation means a player has not received a contract renewal offer from his team.

A third year major leaguer like Choi Hee-seop earns the right to apply for an annual salary adjustment. If the team abandons his application for salary adjustment, he becomes a ‘non-tender’, or a free agent.

The Dodgers offered a contract renewal to Olmedo Saenz, who had competed with Choi for the first base job, and also showed interest in San Francisco veteran first baseman J.T. Snow.

Of course, Choi’s departure from Dodgers could turn out to be a blessing. Minnesota’s David Ortiz became a non-tender free agent in 2002, signed with Boston, and led his team to a World Series victory last year.

Choi Hee-seop’s fate will become apparent on December 21, the league’s deadline for salary adjustments.

uni@donga.com