6.5 billion → 2.5 billion jackpot prospective FA recruitment funbon KIA...Why Cho Sang-woo, an unusual medical, is also expected
Dec 25, 2024
|
KIA announced a trade on the 19th that gave 1 billion won in cash to Kiwoom Heroes and the first and fourth rounds of 2026 to receive Cho Sang-woo. It was as eye-catching news as most big fish FA contracts. It was the moment when Cho Sang-woo's transfer, which had been mentioned as the best sale of the trade throughout this season, became a reality, not a rumor, and it was a trade that read a message that KIA would risk its life and death to win the championship for the second consecutive year.
KIA is a team that has enjoyed a lot by recruiting prospective FA through trade. KIA immediately increased its performance by filling up insufficient positions, and the player was guaranteed an opportunity at KIA, raising the ransom to the maximum. Catcher Park Dong-won (34, LG Twins) in 2022 and catcher Kim Tae-gun (35, KIA) in 2023.
KIA gave Kiwoom infielder Kim Tae-jin (29) 1 billion won in cash and the second round of the 2023 rookie nomination to bring in Park Dong-won. While he failed to foster the catcher, it was not easy to hold out in the round of 5 without his master. With Park Dong-won joining, KIA found a lot more stability in offense and defense, and it paid off by entering the fall baseball with a fifth-place chin-up. In 112 games he played for KIA, Park Dong-won had a batting average of 0.244 (86 hits in 352 times at bat), 17 homers, 53 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.773.
Park Dong-won was able to increase his ransom thanks to the six months he spent at KIA. KIA actively tried to catch Park Dong-won, but failed to crack down before going to the FA market and eventually lost the hard-won master to the LG Twins. Park Dong-won received good treatment when he signed a four-year contract with LG for a total of 6.5 billion won.
KIA recruited Kim Tae-gun in July last year based on Park Dong-won's success story. It was a one-on-one trade that gave up infielder Ryu Ji-hyuk (30) by bringing in Kim Tae-gun, who did not have many opportunities as a backup for the Samsung Lions, as the main player.
|
|
As soon as Kim Tae-gun finished last season, he smiled as he signed a non-FA multi-year contract with KIA for a three-year total of 2.5 billion won. When Kim Tae-gun obtained his first FA qualification after the 2019 season, he swallowed his disappointment by signing a four-year contract with his original team NC Dinos for up to 1.3 billion won, but rather, he made an unusual move to sign a larger contract four years later when he was classified as an veteran. Kim Tae-gun contributed to winning the Korean Series this year, the second year of KIA's transfer, and hugged pitcher Jung Hae-young (23).
Cho Sang-woo is preparing to join Kia as a successful case of recruiting a preliminary FA trade following Park Dong-won and Kim Tae-gun. KIA lost internal FA Jang Hyun-sik (29) to LG and blocked a big hole in the must-win group with Cho Sang-woo. Cho Sang-woo is a former save king (33) in 2020 and is the league's top bullpen with 88 saves in total.
KIA recruited Cho Sang-woo and had him undergo a hospital check-up on the 20th, a day later, leaving no signs of discomfort. Cho Sang-woo ended the season in August due to shoulder pain, and he was concerned about his health. KIA general manager Shim Jae-hak was convinced that Cho Sang-woo was preparing for the Driveline Training, a pitching training center in Seattle, USA, but he made it a little more clear while conducting medical tests. Both the right shoulder and elbow were clean without any specific findings on MRI examination.
Cho Sang-woo conducts personal training at his own expense for a month in the United States. If you look at the effect, you can write a life-changing drama in KIA like Park Dong-won and Kim Tae-gun.
Jo Sang-woo "First of all, I thought I worked out hard and made my body well while in the military, but it wasn't as good as I thought. My body feels better, but I'm going to study why I couldn't use more strength. The driveline tells us a lot about how to use power. That's what I'm trying to look for when I'm happy"He promised to set the stage for a rebound."
|
rina1130@sportschosun.com
