Is there a possibility that Lotte will recruit outside the shortstop after the internal crackdown on 'Lee Hak-joo's shocking release'

Nov 11, 2024

이학주(오른쪽). Sports Chosun DB

What is Lotte Giants' plan for shortstop next season.

Lotte has ended its internal crackdown on the FA. Lotte announced contracts with FA pitchers Kim Won-joong and Koo Seung-min on the 10th. He signed a four-year maximum of 5.4 billion won (4.4 billion guarantees, 1 billion incentives) with closer Kim Won-joong, and ended his contract with bullpen resource Koo Seung-min with a maximum of 2.1 billion won (down payment of 300 million won, annual salary of 1.2 billion, and incentives of 600 million) for 2+2 years.

I took a breather as I completed the contract with both the two players who submitted the application among the FA players in the team. Due to various circumstances such as salary cap, it was burdensome to recruit a super-large external FA, but at least prevented power leakage. The internal crackdown was neatly completed by catching both key pitchers in the bullpen.

FFA contract Kim Won-joong. Photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

However, the key is whether Lotte will recruit additional players. For now, the possibilities are open. The position that draws attention is shortstop. Lotte released Lee Hak-joo, Oh Sun-jin, Lee In-bok, and Lim Jun-seop on the 5th. In particular, the release of Lee Hak-ju was somewhat surprising. He was labeled a "genius shortstop" for a long time in the U.S. to challenge major leaguers in the past. After moving from the Samsung Lions to Lotte, he expected to take the weak shortstop position, Lotte's point of concern, as the main player, but it was not easy.

In particular, the opportunity to play was further reduced as Lotte recruited shortstop resource Roh Jin-hyuk as an outside FA ahead of the 2023 season. In the end, Lee Hak-joo played only 43 games in the first team this year and was released after the season, aiming for the next opportunity.

Currently, Lotte is not seeing a major shortstop for next season. Shim Woo-joon, a big-fish FA shortstop, moved to Hanwha Eagles, but Ha Joo-seok still remains in the FA market, and Ryu Ji-hyuk, a multi-agent who can defend shortstop, has not finished his contract.

The game between the Lotte Giants and the Hanwha Eagles at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 15th. Lotte's Noh Jin-hyuk is hitting a timely hit in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out and runners on second base. Busan = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.15/

However, it is very unlikely that Lotte will reinforce its shortstop position through the recruitment of FA. It shows a strong willingness to focus on internal development rather than external recruitment. Lotte is currently conducting a defensive reinforcement camp in Miyazaki, Japan, with promising players at the center. It is also the club's clear expression of its intention to create a real competitive structure for the next season, as shown in the camp title of Enhanced Defensive. Last year and this year, young fielders in the team showed a step up, but they are willing to make a natural generational change around this competition next season. This is why the possibility of reinforcing FA outside shortstop is slim.

Lotte-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 25th. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung, who won 5-2, greets the players. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.9.25/

If head coach Kim Tae-hyung, the conductor of the field, gives opportunities to the promising players he currently has and competes, the fastest player among them can take the position of the next main shortstop. However, Roh Jin-hyuk, who signed a four-year contract worth 5 billion won, is likely to start the season as a third baseman, not a shortstop, in his plan for next season.

However, Lotte has not completely closed the possibility of additional power reinforcement. Even after the internal crackdown, general manager Park Joon-hyuk continues to move, leaving open all possibilities such as additional recruitment and trade, in addition to fostering prospects. It is a move that feels the will to go higher in the new season.

youll@sportschosun.com