The Giants reportedly made a splash for the first time in the MLB offseason.
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee has agreed to a six-year, $113 million free agent contract with an opt-out option after the fourth year.
Jung Hoo Lee to Giants. 6 years, $113 million. Opt out after 4 years.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2023
As Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic pointed out, Lee's $113 million contract does not include the roughly $19 million signing fee that San Francisco will pay to Lee's former team, the Kiwoom Heroes. Lee was officially hired on December 4, opening his 30-day window to sign with an MLB team.
The Giants' $113 million investment in Jung Hoo Lee does not include the release fee, which amounts to about an additional $19 million. That's a $122 million investment that shatters most predictions.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) December 12, 2023
The 25-year-old centerfielder won the 2022 KBO MVP award with the Kiwoom Heroes after hitting .349/.421/.575 with 23 home runs, 113 RBI and a .996 OPS. Lee hit .318/.406/.455 with six home runs and 45 RBI in 86 games in 2023 before an ankle injury ended his season in July.
Nicknamed the “Grandson of the Wind,” Lee is a former shortstop who moved to center field in 2017 and has won five consecutive Gold Glove awards. He is the son of Jong Beom Lee, a legendary shortstop who played a total of 20 seasons in the KBO and NPB in Japan.
The 25-year-old is an elite defender and has exceptional bat-to-ball skills. Lee struck out just 32 times in 553 at-bats in 2022 and could help solve a major problem for the Giants at the plate. The level of play in the KBO is believed to be somewhere between Double- and Triple-A in the US, with an average fastball velocity of around 88 mph compared to 93 mph in the MLB, meaning that There could be an initial adjustment period for young people to become left-handed.
Lee was one of the Giants' top targets this offseason and was scouted by the organization multiple times leading up to his season-ending injury. He is considered the Giants' everyday centerfielder and could be a solid top-tier player for years to come.
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