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U.S. media reports Son A-seop’s possible move to Major League

U.S. media reports Son A-seop’s possible move to Major League

Posted September. 24, 2015 08:22,   

한국어

This is official response from the Lotte Giants upon learning about a news report in the U.S. media that Son A-seop is seeking to move to the Major League. Citing informed sources on the Korean pro-baseball and Son’s situation, Yahoo Sports reported on Wednesday, “Son A-seop has a plan to move to the Major League through the posting system (closed bidding).” Son will not become a free agent next year. Hence, if he is to move to overseas, he must undergo posting after gaining permission from his team.

Underscoring that Son has posted a batting average that has exceeded 0.300 for six consecutive years and received the Golden Glove award for four consecutive years, Yahoo Sports reported that due to Kang Jung-ho (Pittsburgh)’s success, major league baseball teams have keen interest in Son A-seop.” The U.S. media reported Son could be paid even more than Kang.

“As we understand, there is no agency that is helping Son A-seop move to overseas,” a Lotte Giants source said. “It is not appropriate in terms of timing to discuss his advance to the Major League.” However, it is true that Major League teams including Pittsburgh and Oakland have kept a close watch on Son this season.

Insiders in the Korean baseball community said it is uncertain whether any team will seek to submit an amount of bid and annual salary for posting that Son and Lotte would be willing to accept. More than anything, there are already many left-handed batters and outfielders in the Major League. San Francisco Giants outfielder Norichika Aoki who moved to the Major League in 2012 after posting a cumulative batting average of 0.329 for eight years as a left-handed batter and outfielder in the Japanese pro baseball, only received a bid worth 2.5 million U.S. dollars from Milwaukee. If Son is to move to the Major League, it will likely be necessary for him to use strategic approach that emphasizes the scarcity of his talent that distinguishes him from existing left-handed batters and outfielders.



elegant@donga.com