Kim Ha-seong's team San Diego, outfield 'empty' due to trade San Francisco is also a candidate The Yankees seem to be missing
Kim Ha-seong and Lee Jeong-hoo watching Game 5 of the Korean Series
San Diego Padres of the Major League Baseball (MLB), Ha-sung Kim's team, appears to be jumping into the race to recruit Jeong-hoo Lee.
After reporting on the 7th (Korean time) that San Diego starting outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham would be transferred to the New York Yankees, American MLB Network reporter John Heyman said on social media, "There is talk about Korean center fielder Lee Jung-hoo." “San Diego could be a strong destination for Lee Jung-hoo,” he said.
It has been predicted for a long time that San Diego would pursue the recruitment of Lee Jeong-hoo.
The story was that AJ Preller San Diego General Manager, who led the recruitment of Ha-Seong Kim, was keeping an eye on Jeong-Hoo Lee to rewrite the success story of recruiting players from the KBO League.
However, San Diego had many excellent outfielders such as Soto, Grisham, and Fernando Tatis Jr.
The situation took a sharp turn with San Diego's trade news announced on the 7th.
San Diego is known to be pursuing a large trade that would involve giving Soto and Grisham to the Yankees and acquiring four pitchers and a catcher.MLB.com said, “Only minor procedures such as health examination remain.”
San Diego, which lost two starting outfielders, is expected to focus on recruiting Lee Jeong-hoo, who is considered one of the top outfielders in the Stove League.
With this trade, Lee Jeong-hoo's price has room to rise.This is because there is already a team actively courting Lee Jung-hoo.
The San Francisco Giants have been making moves to recruit Lee Jung-hoo since he was playing for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.
San Francisco General Manager Pete Purteller visited Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul last October and saw Lee Jeong-hoo in action.
San Francisco coach Bob Melvin, who used Kim Ha-seong in San Diego until the 2023 season, recently mentioned Lee Jeong-hoo's name at the Winter Meetings and said that a new outfielder is needed.
Given the current atmosphere, San Diego and San Francisco are expected to engage in a fierce recruitment battle.
However, the Yankees, who were considered candidates for recruitment, are expected to be omitted from the expected destination as they have reinforced two prominent outfielders.
It is known that Lee Jung-hoo's side is currently in contact with MLB clubs to coordinate the ransom.
Lee Jung-hoo can freely negotiate with 30 MLB teams until 7 a.m. on January 4th next year, Korean time. 19가이드03