"Let's hear how much you want..." LG's first negotiation with Choi Won-tae today. Is Jang Hyun-sik's 5.2 billion contract a pressure card?
Nov 12, 2024
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The LG Twins left negotiations with Choi Won-tae, an internal FA and important starting pitcher, and first rushed to bullpen pitcher Jang Hyun-sik and signed a four-year contract worth a total of 5.2 billion won.
First of all, it was surprising that he signed a contract by giving 5.2 billion won only as a guarantee without options, and it was surprising that he boldly gave Jang Hyun-sik a dash and won the contract over his competitors even though he could be pressured by the salary cap.
And now negotiations with internal FA Choi Won-tae begin. "We plan to meet with Choi Won-tae on the 12th and listen to him," LG's general manager Cha Myung-seok said.
Choi Won-tae was the only starting resource in the FA market along with Um Sang-baek. He was a starting pitcher who won more than 45-year-old Um Sang-baek with 78 wins in his career. The past two years have achieved similar results, with Um Sang-baek signing a contract with the Hanwha Eagles for a total of 7.8 billion won.
At the same time, it was expected that he would have to pay that much to catch Choi Won-tae naturally.
LG took a wait-and-see approach for now. LG is in a situation where it is good to have Choi Won-tae, but it is not a big loss even if he leaves. First of all, there are good domestic starters Lim Chan-kyu and Son Joo-young, so there will be four starters along with two foreign pitchers. In the case of five starts, Lee Jung-yong, who will be discharged in June, may take charge if he finds a new pitcher and does not find a suitable pitcher.
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Now that the big fire has been put out, I can now afford to negotiate with Choi Won-tae.
Catching Jang Hyun-sik could put pressure on Choi Won-tae. Since LG spent KRW 5.2 billion for four years on Jang Hyun-sik, the amount that can be spent on Choi Won-tae will inevitably decrease. It's because of the salary cap. This means that it is not easy for LG to accept even if Choi Won-tae calls a large amount of money with confidence.
Cha said, `First of all, we have to hear how much Choi Wontae wants.' When asked if he couldn't catch Choi Wontae because of the salary cap, he said, 'Salary cap is not the right way to sign a contract.' At a certain amount, it can be interpreted as meaning that salary cap can be avoided as a contract condition.
Can Choi Won-tae remain at LG. It seems that some outline may come out of the first negotiations.
indyk@sportschosun.com
