11:02PM: The KBO formally requested to Main League Baseball that Lee be posted (reporter Jiheon Pae had the information first, and because of MyKBO.web’s Dan Kurtz for the replace). This doesn’t essentially velocity up the timeline reported by Yoo earlier tonight, as Yoo reiterated that “with the Thanksgiving vacation, the method possible received’t start in earnest till early December.” As soon as Lee is posted, his window will solely be 30 days, not 45. The change to a 45-day posting interval was made final offseason for NPB gamers, although it seems as if gamers coming from the KBO League have simply the unique 30 days to discover a contract.
9:42PM: The Kiwoom Heroes gave Jung Hoo Lee’s medical information to KBO League officers yesterday, Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap Information experiences (by way of X). Between the same old evaluate protocols between each the KBO after which MLB officers, Yoo figures that Lee will likely be formally posted for Main League groups in early December, factoring in a little bit of delay given the Thanksgiving vacation.
That may formally open the floodgates on what is predicted to be a brisk marketplace for Lee’s providers, with the New York Publish’s Jon Heyman reporting that 20 groups have an interest within the outfielder. With this many groups doubtlessly within the hunt, it actually looks like Lee may match or exceed MLBTR’s projection of a five-year, $50MM contract, a prediction made because of each Lee’s spectacular monitor document in South Korea and the truth that he’s solely 25 years previous. The Giants, Yankees, and Padres are the groups who’ve been publicly linked to Lee’s market so far.
Whereas Lee’s anticipated price ticket will likely be a lot decrease than that of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the 2 gamers share some market similarities because of their younger age of 25. In idea, each have a number of prime years forward and maybe haven’t even reached their peak, whereas many gamers coming to the majors from Japan or South Korea are already of their late 20’s or into their 30’s by the point they’re posted, or by the point they amass sufficient service time for full free company.
As a result of NPB is seen as a better caliber of league than the KBO and since Yamamoto is seen as extra of a real elite expertise, his anticipated contract will naturally be greater than Lee’s, since some scouts aren’t fully offered on how Lee’s bat will translate to a lot energy in opposition to MLB pitching. Some comps have been made to Masataka Yoshida however with a better defensive ceiling, even when Lee may not stick in middle area. Lee’s platform 12 months was additionally restricted to 86 video games because of season-ending ankle surgical procedure, and whereas he needs to be wholesome for Spring Coaching, he missed a essential probability to additional showcase himself for any doubting evaluators.
In brief, there’s loads of room for variance on the sorts of affords that Lee may get, since there’s sure to be a variety of opinions inside a 20-team area. Some groups may drop out of the operating just because they’ve made different outfield acquisitions within the interim, possibly earlier than Lee’s posting window even opens. Different groups who’ve a bigger presence in worldwide scouting may have extra information on Lee, although that maybe would work both for or in opposition to him relying on a membership’s opinion.
As per the league posting guidelines, Lee may have 45 days to signal with a Main League workforce as soon as his posting interval opens. If he can’t land a contract inside these 45 days, he’ll return to the Heroes for the 2024 KBO season and have to attend till subsequent winter for an additional probability at coming to the massive leagues. Whereas it appears possible Lee will discover a suitable deal to return to North America, a return to South Korea can’t be fully dominated out. There may very well be lingering considerations over his well being or maybe simply how he’ll modify to the majors, or Lee and his brokers on the Boras Company may not be happy with the affords on the desk.
The Heroes will obtain a posting price tied to Lee’s eventual contract, with the brand new MLB membership paying this price on high of what they provide to Lee himself. The Heroes will get 20% of the primary $25MM of a contract, 17.5% of the subsequent $25MM, and 15% of something past the $50MM threshold. At MLBTR’s projection of a $50MM deal, the Heroes would get a $9.375MM posting price.
