FA INFIELDER CHAPMAN PLAY WITH LEE JUNG-HOO… 3-YEARS 72.1 BILLION WON AGREEMENT WITH SAN FRANCISCO
Lee Jung-hoo, virtually confirmed to be №1 in free agent pure field value
Lee Jung-hoo (25), a starting outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of the Major League Baseball (ML, shares a meal with Matt Chapman (3, a top-class infielder in the league.
Citing sources, MLB.com reported on the 2nd (Korean time) that Chapman (3, who remained in the free agent (FA) market, agreed to a three-year contract with San Francisco worth a total of $54 million about 72.1 billion won. https://bit.ly/outlookindiasports
Chapman is a third baseman with the league’s best defense and won the American League (AL) Gold Glove in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Last season, he also played with Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) at the Toronto Blue Jays.
Chapman’s batting accuracy is somewhat poor, but he is a long hitter who hit double-digit home runs every season from 2017, when he debuted in MLB, to last year.
With the addition of Chapman, San Francisco greatly improved its team strength.
In addition, Lee Jeong-hoo, who was designated as the starting number one hitter for the new season, can expect a synergy effect with Matt Chapman, who will play the role of a problem solver. https://start.me/w/XXO6gL
The contract size is lower than expected.
Chapman wanted a long-term contract worth more than $100 million, but MLB clubs did not make offers that met his expectations.
Chapman was unable to find a team for his team until the start of his exhibition games, and then decided to sign his contract right before the start of the regular season.
However, it is known that Chapman entered an opt-out clause (breaking the existing contract and signing a new free agent contract) in his contract.
MLB.com said, “Matt Chapman can apply for free agency again after completing the 2024 and 2025 seasons.”
He will be paid $20 million in salary for the 2024 season, $18 million in the 2025 season and $16 million in the 2026 season if he does not exercise his opt-out.
Chapman, who was considered one of the top free agent fielders, agreed to a contract worth $54 million, effectively confirming that Lee Jeong-hoo is the top player in MLB Stove League pure fielder contracts this winter.
Lee Jeong-hoo signed a six-year contract with San Francisco worth a total of $113 million.
The first place in total free agent total is Shohei Ohtani (10 years, $700 million), who also bats, and the second place is right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12 years, $325 million, Los Angeles Dodgers).
Third place is right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola (7 years, $172 million, Philadelphia Phillies), and Lee Jeong-hoo is fourth.
However, there remains a possibility of a change in the rankings as Blake Snell, last season’s National League Cy Young Award winner, remains in the free agent market.
Chapman’s agent, Scott Boras, suffered a dent in his reputation when he signed Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs) to Chapman at a low price. https://tinyurl.com/outlookindiasports
Bellinger, who was considered the biggest fielder in free agency, also held out without signing a contract until the 25th of last month, and then signed a three-year, $80 million contract with his original team, the Cubs, that included an opt-out.
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