Slugger Might Sign With Yomiuri Giants

“I would like to call and ask Lee Seung-yup what he thinks of our team (Yomiuri Giants).”

As Lee Seung-yup’s move to Yomiuri Giants becomes more likely, Hara Tatsunori, Yomiuri’s manager, has showed a keen interest in Lee.

Since Lotte’s Lee Seung-yup became a free agent on January 13, the likelihood of his move to Yomiuri Giants became clearer. Yomiuri is the most prestigious team in Japanese pro baseball.

Japan’s sports newspapers, including Nikkan Sports and Sports Hochi, have been writing since January 14 about Lee’s move to Kyojin (pet name for Giants).

He Wants to Play First-

It is said that 50 percent of Japan’s population are loyal Giants fans. Lee has been expressing his wish to play defense, and the Giants seems to be a perfect fit for him. Yomiuri first baseman Kiyohara Kazuhiro was traded to the Orix Blue Wave for pitcher Toyota Kiyoshi, and backup first baseman Akira was let go as well. The Giants brought Joe Dillon in from U.S. to fill the backup first baseman’s slot, but his ability has not been tested yet.

Manager Hara praised Lee by saying, “Lee Seung-yup can play either first base or outfield. He’s a super athlete.” He added, “But he will have to fight off his competitors if he wants to win the position he wants.” Lee has been especially strong against Central League teams, including the Giants. Out of 30 homeruns Lee hit last year, 12 homeruns came in the 29 inter-league games he played in. He also hit three homeruns in the Japan series against Hanshin.

1.8 Billion Won-

Lee and Giants seem to have agreed to unite. What remains now is the contract negotiation. Giants’ representative Kiyotake Hidetoshi said on January 15, “We offered slightly less than what Lotte offered him, which was 250 million yen. We have no intention of playing a money game.” The Giants are likely to offer Lee approximately 200 million yen (1.8 billion won).

Lotte Wants Lee to Stay-

But Lotte is not about to lose their best hitter without a fight. The team’s eagerness to entice Lee to stay was expressed by the team representative Setoyama Ryujo, who said, “I am willing to travel to Korea and ask him personally if necessary, adding, “But we already have offered the best deal we can, and there will not be any more contract sweeteners.”

uni@donga.com