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| The LG Twins squad left for Arizona, USA, through Incheon International Airport on the 23rd. Jang Hyun-sik is entering the departure hall. Incheon International Airport = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.01.23/ |
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| The LG Twins squad left for Arizona, USA, through Incheon International Airport on the 23rd. Shim Chang-min, Jang Hyun-sik, and Kim Kang-ryul are posing. Incheon International Airport = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.01.23/ |
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| The Samsung Lions team left for Guam, where spring camp was set up, through Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 22nd. Choi Won-tae is waiting to go through the departure process. Incheon Airport = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.1.22/ |
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The LG Twins, who gave up Choi Won-tae with a total of 7 billion won and Jang Hyun-sik with 5.2 billion won and Kim Kang-ryul with a total of 1.4 billion won, escaped the crisis of exceeding the salary cap for the second consecutive year.
LG has completed recruiting outside players, including FA players, and has also finished salary negotiations with those subject to renewal within the team.
The task of LG's stove league was to match the salary cap along with the reinforcement of power. KBO has introduced a competitive equalization tax system (salary cap) since 2023 for upward leveling of power and continuous development. From 2021 to 2022, KRW 11.426.38 billion, 120% of the club's annual average amount, which adds up the amount of the top 40 players (excluding foreigners and rookie players), was set as the ceiling for salary cap.
As a result of settling the total amount of the top 40 players in 2024, only the LG Twins exceeded the salary cap with 13.85616 billion won. In the case of the first violation, LG is required to pay 1.21489 million won as 50% of the excess amount is paid to the Baseball Development Fund.
If the excess is exceeded for two consecutive times, 100% of the excess must be paid to the baseball development fund, and the right to nominate in the first round of the following year will fall by nine levels. In other words, you have to pick the first round when you're nominated for the second round. In addition, if it exceeds three consecutive times, 150% of the excess is paid, and the first round's nomination right falls by nine levels.
Paying the baseball development fund may not be a big problem. However, failing to select a player in the first round is a big blow.
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| The LG Twins squad left for Arizona, USA, through Incheon International Airport on the 23rd. Hong Chang-ki is entering the departure hall. Incheon International Airport = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.01.23/ |
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| LG Twins Moon Bo-kyung is interviewing reporters before leaving for Arizona, USA, where the spring camp is on the 23rd. Incheon Airport = Reporter Kwon In-ha |
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| The first LG Twins advance team left for the Arizona spring camp at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 15th. Son Joo-young is signing autographs for her fans ahead of her departure. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.01.15/ |
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So LG had no choice but to be passive in this stove league. Although the salary cap in the 2025 season was KRW 13.71 billion, up 20% from the previous season, it was not able to boldly jump into LG, which exceeded its limit.
Starting Choi Won-tae came to the market as an internal FA, but he did not actively show any intention to catch it. It was necessary to reinforce the mound, but there were many opinions that the bullpen should be strengthened rather than the starter. In addition, as the FA starting pitcher Um Sang-baek signed a four-year contract with the Hanwha Eagles for a total of 7.8 billion won, Choi Won-tae's ransom naturally increased, forcing LG to be more passive in catching Choi Won-tae.
LG succeeded in reinforcing the bullpen by recruiting Jang Hyun-sik, an FA bullpen pitcher, for a total of 5.2 billion won for four years. As closer Yoo Young-chan's return in the first half became uncertain after undergoing surgery, veteran FA Kim Kang-ryul was also set at a total of 1.4 billion won for 3+1 years. In the end, he couldn't even negotiate properly with Choi Won-tae, and Choi left by signing a four-year contract with the Samsung Lions for a total of 7 billion won.
Among those eligible for renewal, there were many players who had a factor in raising their salary. As a result of the negotiations, Hong Chang-ki received 650 million won, up 140 million won, and Moon Bo-kyung also rose 110 million won to 410 million won. Son Joo-young signed a contract of 172 million won, up 125 million won, and Yoo Young-chan also received 210 million won, up 125 million won. Not many players were cut. Jung Woo-young's signature of 180 million won, down 140 million won, was the biggest cut
Fortunately, he did not exceed the salary cap for two consecutive years. LG's general manager Cha Myung-seok said "Because we don't have to pass it over twice in a row. I barely got it right."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
