According to multiple sources familiar with baseball, Kim Jae-yoon (33) signed an FA contract with the Samsung Lions. It is known to be in the late 5 billion won range for four years, including incentives. Kim Jae-yoon visited Samsung’s Seoul office on the 21st and completed the contract process.
FA bullpen biggest player Kim Jae-yoon’s trip to Samsung. It was a stove league scenario that was somewhat predictable. 안전놀이터
Samsung has been suffering from chronic backdoor instability. He was the only team in the five-point range with a 5.16 ERA among the 10 clubs this season. The eldest brothers Oh Seung-hwan (41) and Woo Kyu-min (38) struggled and served as the winning team, but they could not be the ball power in their heyday.
The left-right duo Lee Seung-hyun (left-hander) and Choi Choong-yeon, who were expected to be the core of the bullpen during the spring camp, failed to perform as expected. He actively used young pitchers in the Futures League, but there were limitations in terms of consistency and stability. The bullpen’s anxiety was great because it ranked eighth this season, which was the first season of Samsung manager Park Jin-man’s appointment.
Samsung lost 38 games this season, the most upset loss among 10 teams. According to Sports2I statistics, the winning rate of the previous game until the fifth inning was also the lowest (42-16, 0.724). As such, there were many games where the winning opportunities created by the starters were not fully kept. The direction of Lee Jong-yeol, a former player and newly appointed general manager who was responsible for rebuilding Samsung baseball, was also clear.
In an interview with Sports Chosun shortly after his appointment, Lee said, “I am looking at the bullpen market.” We are looking at priorities in the FA market. He did not deny the stance of reinforcing the bullpen in the FA market, saying, “I will consult with manager Park Jin-man and make a decision after hearing the on-site opinion.” In fact, Lee visited the Okinawa camp in Japan, where the closing camp is being held, and discussed strengthening his power throughout the winter with coach Park Jin-man. At the meeting, the direction of Kim Jae-yoon’s priority recruitment was also decided.
When the target was set, the market moved quickly as soon as it opened. Kim Jae-yoon’s original club, KT Wiz, also wanted to stay, but it was difficult to gain the upper hand in the recruitment competition with Samsung, which is desperate to strengthen the bullpen.
Kim Jae-yoon, who joined KT as the second special 13th pick in 2015 after graduating from Whimoon High School, is a special right-handed closer representing the league.
Starting with 32 saves in 2021, when KT won its first integrated championship, it showed off its stability by surpassing 30 saves for three consecutive seasons. He won 5-5 with 32 saves and a 2.60 ERA in 59 games this season.
He has 44 wins and 33 losses, 169 saves, 17 holds, and a 3.58 ERA in 481 games. The KBO league’s total of 169 saves is eighth in history, and the third-largest in active history after Oh Seung-hwan (Samsung, 400 saves) and Jung Woo-ram (Hanwha, 197 saves).
With the recruitment of Kim Jae-yoon, Samsung will be able to embrace the first and third players in active saves if Oh Seung-hwan remains.
It is necessary to organize traffic with Oh Seung-hwan, the “final leader” who holds the symbolism of the best finish in KBO history. Oh Seung-hwan is also in the FA market.
It is more likely to remain through a symbolic FA contract with Samsung than the transfer market. If Oh Seung-hwan remains at Samsung, it will be possible to establish a double stopper system with Kim Jae-yoon.
The Samsung Lions have secured the bullpen by moving quickly. Expectations are growing for Samsung to rebuild its prestigious family, which started its first move in the stove league by minimizing its weaknesses.
Meanwhile, Samsung, which recruited FAB grade Kim Jae-yoon, will compensate for 100% of the previous year’s salary (360 million won) or 200% of the previous year’s salary, in addition to 25 protective players.