This winter, the bullpen is worth gold… Changed FA market
Reliever pitcher Kim Won-joong (right) signed a free agent contract with Lotte on the 10th. Photo Lotte Giants
The trend in the free agent (FA) market has changed. Relief pitchers are enjoying popularity this winter.
On the 10th, the Lotte Giants announced that they had signed a four-year contract worth up to 5.4 billion won with closing pitcher Kim Won-joong (31). Of the 5.4 billion won, the guaranteed amount is a whopping 4.4 billion won. The conditions offered by Lotte were not the best. Multiple clubs asked about Kim Won-joong’s intentions, and even offered more money than Lotte. Kim Won-joong had a strong will to remain with his former team, so the contract was completed quickly, but the competition behind the scenes was fierce.
On the 11th, the LG Twins announced that they had signed a contract with relief pitcher Jang Hyun-sik (29) for a total of 5.2 billion won for a period of 4 years (down payment of 1.6 billion won, annual salary of 3.6 billion won). Jang Hyun-sik has posted 81 holds over the past four seasons, including becoming the hold king in 2021. The fact that the compensation grade was B grade and the ability to play many innings was attractive. Not only the original team KIA but also the runner-up team Samsung Lions showed interest. However, LG, which offered the total contract amount as a guaranteed amount, succeeded in retaining Jang Hyun-sik.
Pitcher Jang Hyun-sik (left) and CEO Kim In-seok, who signed a free agent contract with LG. Photo LG Twins
It is rare for a relief pitcher to sign a free agent contract worth more than 5 billion won. Ahead of the 2016 season, Jung Woo-ram (SK Wyverns → Hanwha Eagles) and Son Seung-rak (Nexen Heroes → Lotte), who were the league’s top relievers, signed contracts for 8.4 billion won and 6 billion won, respectively. Afterwards, Kim Jae-yoon (2024, total amount 5.8 billion won), who transferred from KT Wiz to Samsung, was the only one.
Until this season, there were not many expectations that the two pitchers would sign large contracts. However, the KBO Board of Directors raised the salary cap (competitive balance tax) starting next year, making it possible to spend money. In addition, most teams this season had difficulty managing their bullpen. The batted ball pitch loss was severe, and in particular, the league average ERA for relief pitchers soared from 4.27 to 5.16. As ‘demand’ increases, ‘price’ naturally goes up as well.
Other relief pitchers are also doing well. Lotte setup man Koo Seung-min (34) signed a 2+2 year contract worth 2.1 billion won on the same day as Kim Won-joong. When he becomes a free agent next year, he is a C grade, so it was likely that he will repeat for one year, but he declared free agency and signed a good contract. Due to poor performance this year, the annual salary was reduced (450 million won → 300 million won), but since there is a down payment (300 million won) and incentives based on performance (600 million won), it is effectively frozen or slightly increased.
Koo Seung-min fights back (Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Hyun-woo = The 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League match between Lotte Giants and Doosan Bears held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 19th. Lotte pitcher Koo Seung-min, who was substituted in the bottom of the 11th inning, is fighting back. 2024.5.19 nowwego@yna.co.kr (End) 〈Copyright (c) Yonhap News, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution, AI learning and use prohibited〉
KIA Im Ki-young (31), SSG Landers Noh Kyeong-eun (40), Doosan Bears Kim Kang-ryul (36), NC Dinos Lim Jeong-ho (34), and Kiwoom Moon Seong-hyeon (33) are also on the radar of teams willing to strengthen their bullpens. In particular, Kim Kang-ryul, Lim Jeong-ho, and Moon Seong-hyun are grade C, so they have the advantage of not having to give compensation players.
