George Harris
Dec 13, 2023 - 03:10

South Korean Jung Hoo Lee signs $113 million, 6-year deal with Giants, AP source reports

The San Francisco Giants sign South Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a $113 million, six-year contract, filling a huge need.

The San Francisco Giants have signed South Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. This person, who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity, revealed that Lee has the option to terminate the deal after four years and $72 million to become a free agent once again.

The versatile Lee is expected to fill a significant need for the Giants, likely in center field. The team has missed the playoffs for the past two seasons, and they hope Lee's addition will help turn their fortunes around. The Giants pursued two-way star Shohei Ohtani last year, but he ultimately signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi confirmed that the team had made multiple offers to Ohtani, with their final proposal being very similar to the deal he ultimately accepted with the Dodgers. Zaidi expressed the team's aggressiveness and interest in securing top talent, despite missing out on Ohtani last year and failing to finalize agreements with other players.

The 25-year-old Lee was posted by South Korea's Kiwoom Heroes, and if he remains with the Giants for the entire contract, the team would owe the Heroes an $18,825,000 posting fee. Additionally, the Giants would owe an extra 15% fee for any earned bonuses or escalators.

New Giants manager Bob Melvin, who was hired in October, has expressed his willingness to recruit players from Asia, given his experience coaching players from the region. Lee had an impressive season in 2022, hitting .349 with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs, and was voted rookie of the year in 2017 and MVP in 2022.

Despite breaking his left ankle during a game in July, Lee has proven himself to be a valuable player with a career average of .340, 65 home runs, and 515 RBIs for the Heroes. His father, Jong Beom Lee, was MVP in 1994 and played for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan from 1998 to 2001.

Looking ahead, the Giants are focused on strengthening their pitching and defense, with an emphasis on run production. Zaidi highlighted the team's commitment to finding athleticism up the middle of the diamond and supporting their pitching staff, which is considered the team's strength.

In conclusion, the addition of Jung Hoo Lee to the San Francisco Giants is a significant move for the team as they continue to build their roster for the 2024 season.