The team had already left for spring camp, but the two free agents (FA) faced February without a team. Veteran outfielders Lee Myeong-gi (36) and Kwon Hee-dong (33) are still having a cold winter.
As of the 1st, NC has not signed a contract with internal free agents Lee Myung-gi and Kwon Hee-dong. Pitcher Jeong Chan-heon (33), who is also a lost child, has no news to say, unlike the original team Kiwoom Heroes announced their intention to sign and trade.
On the 29th of last month, NC moved to Tucson, Arizona, USA, where the spring camp will be held this year through Incheon International Airport. 11 coaching staff and 43 players participate in this field training.
Before and after the start of the camp, NC also took care of the team’s tasks one by one. On the 27th of last month, the team’s annual salary contract was completed, and on the 31st, the vacant foreign pitcher position was completed by bringing in Taylor Widener (29).
Pitcher Shim Chang-min (30) and infielder Park Seok-min (38), who did not apply for free agency qualifications, faced a significant drop in their salaries. Shim Chang-min will receive 150 million won, a 46% reduction from 280 million won, and Park Seok-min will receive 50 million won, a whopping 93% reduction from 700 million won. It was because there was not much activity last season. 메이저놀이터
The two players can wear the NC uniform this year, but Lee Myung-gi and Kwon Hee-dong, who applied for FA, have not been called by the club to this day. It has been quiet for more than two months since it came out on the market. In the baseball world, there is even a saying that if he hadn’t come out as a free agent, he would have signed a new contract.
They have proven their worth enough. Lee Myung-gi showed a sophisticated batting average to record his career batting average of 0.307, and even last year, after a sluggish first half, he survived with a batting average of 0.294 in the second half. Kwon Hee-dong also had 19 homers in 2017 and 12 homers in 2020, and had a good starting pitching plan, with an on-base percentage (0.353) that differed by nearly 0.1 from his career batting average (0.259).
But its weaknesses are also obvious. Lee Myung-gi’s 36-year-old age is an obstacle. Since Kwon Hee-dong is a B grade player who has to give out a compensation player, it is difficult for other teams to easily decide to recruit him. He also has a history of controversy over violating the Corona 19 quarantine rules for the 2021 expedition.
Here, NC revealed that it had not made a proper offer to them since the FA market opened. NC already has Park Kun-woo (33) and Son Ah-seop (35), a duo of national outfielders. In addition, foreign hitters Jason Martin (28) and Futures FA Han Seok-hyun (29) were recruited, and internal resources Kim Seong-wook (30) and Oh Jang-han (21) are holding out. An official from the club also said, “We are currently looking at giving other existing players a chance.”
The flight to NC’s spring camp has already left. Now, the two players will spend February with the difficult task of finding another destination.