0.253 → 0.224 → 0.200 → 0.310. Will the 4th FA student, who dramatically revived in his hometown, be accompanied by KIA?
Dec 21, 2024
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KIA Tigers announced the news of the contract with Lim Ki-young, an internal FA, on the 21st. Lim Ki-young signed a three-year contract with KIA for a total of 1.5 billion won. The conditions are 300 million won in down payment, 900 million won in annual salary, and 300 million won in incentives.
Lim Ki-young, who came from Hanwha to KIA as a compensation player due to the transfer of FA Song Eun-beom after the 2014 season, succeeded in signing an FA contract and made a successful case for a compensation player.
KIA, which won the title for the first time in seven years, had three internal FA in the FA market. Jang Hyun-sik and Lim Ki-young, who were one of the key bullpens, and Seo Geon-chang, who succeeded in rebounding from his hometown team and applied for FA in the fourth time.
Jang Hyun-sik was the first target. Other teams also sought Jang Hyun-sik, and after a scramble, the LG Twins succeeded in signing the contract on an exceptional condition of guaranteeing the full 5.2 billion won for four years. In order to fill Jang Hyun-sik's gap, KIA decided to give Kiwoom Heroes a first- and fourth-round draft pick in 2026 and 1 billion won in cash to bring Cho Sang-woo. Cho Sang-woo was Kiwoom's closer with 20 saves in 2019, 33 saves in 2020, and 15 saves in 2021, although he recorded 1 loss, 6 saves and 9 holds due to injuries and other reasons this year. It is a card that remains even after filling Jang Hyun-sik's gap sufficiently.
He also signed with Lim Ki-young, who has played his role in KIA's starting pitcher and bullpen.
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The hometown team made a comeback. He was not the main player, but he was a strong backup. Seo Geon-chang, who mainly played as a backup agent for the first and second basemen, played in 94 games with a batting average of 310 (63 hits in 203 at-bats) and one home run and 26 RBIs. With an on-base percentage of 0.416 and a slugging percentage of 0.404, the OPS was good with 0.820.
I applied for FA after the 4th time. Seo Geon-chang, who was A grade in his first FA, turned 35 this time and became C grade without compensation players. Even if he did not sign a large contract, just exercising his FA qualification, his dream as a baseball player, could be seen as a successful revival for Seo Geon-chang.
However, even with the end of 2024, no news of the contract has been reported. The remaining contract with Kia, the resurgent hometown team, seems to be the best scenario.
KIA has also signed a contract with Lim Ki-young following the recruitment of Cho Sang-woo, so it can be said that conditions have been prepared to focus on signing Seo Geon-chang in the future.
What will be the result of the 4th number of FA's tenacity. Is it a happy ending that you dream of.
indyk@sportschosun.com
