2010 Off-Season

Royster is in talks with Lotte about a new contract.

Samsung said that Cruseda and Knight will return next season.

2009 MVP candidates: Kim Sang-hyun (KIA), Kim Kwang-hyun (SK), Kim Hyun-soo (Doosan), Park Yong-taek (LG).

2009 Rookie of the Year candidates: Ahn Chi-hong (KIA), Ko Chang-sung, Lee Yong-chan, Hong Sang-sam (Doosan), Kim Min-sung (Lotte).

The off-season has begun. November 25th is the deadline to re-sign the foreign players.

Season awards will be given out soon as well. MVP, Rookie of the Year etc.

I have heard that there a number of Korean players leaving the KBO, after the 2009 season, to comply with customary Army responsibilities.

This may affect some KBO teams more than others. I have heard SK & Woori will lose players to the Army.

I know the media has been busy with the Korean Series...but have there been any write ups in the papers or discussions about which teams are losing players....and which team might be hurt the most?

There are some big name Korean players on the FREE AGENT market this winter and in the "cross-hairs" of some Japan teams. Although this list is small, but add it to the list of players leaving for military duty....there could be some KBO teams needing to fill a lot of holes this winter.

May be pre-mature since the Korean Series has just finished....but I am sure the media will soon be touching these topics.

Congrats to KIA Tigers....an incredible season!

Cibao

MVP and ROY will be announced tomorrow at the Lotte Hotel in Jamsil.

I'll try to get a list of the notable guys going to the army.

Hong Sung-hoon is moving to the OF for Lotte.

There was no real dominant rookies this year like there has been the last few years with Kim, Ryul and the rest of those dominant pitchers that ave just come up blowing people away.

Doosan had a good crop of youngsters this year though. Sangsam did come through changing his role from long relief to starter, but I wouldn't say that puts him in the top slot of the best rookie of the bunch.
Then Soobin Jung, he did a good job filling in and spot starting also, but I think he didn't get a full season in to give him enough at-bats for the trophy.

I would have to go with their counterpart Yongchan for the top slot.

I still have some faith that Heroes Jay il Oh, given some time can be a good hitting 1B. They should trade him or some veterans away for some pitching, giving him a full season at 1B.

MVP, Sanghyun Kim, KIA. He did have bats around him that helped him get some pitches, but he had one of those years.
he sucked in the playoffs, but his seasonal play is what gets the trophy.

random rumors from the papers: Royster wants a 3 year, $5 million dollar contract?, Lotte will make a run at Lee Bum-ho? Doosan, LG, Hanwha want new import players?

Kim Sang-hyun of KIA wins the MVP and Lee Yong-chan of Doosan wins rookie of the year.

Kim got 79 out of 90 first place votes. Kim Hyun-soo of Doosan received the others.

Link

Random Rumors: Kim Dong-joo to head to Lotte Marines in Japan? Royster to sign a contract by the end of the week? Hot Stove begins on Thursday.

Choi Kyung-hwan was released from KIA.

Interesting tidbits regarding Kim Tae-gyun from a Korea Times article:

Korea Times

List of free agents (unofficial list): Official one will be out on the 29th. I think teams can begin signing on November 1.

Lotte's Hong signed a 1 year contract, but I think he's restricted, so Lotte will sign him again. KBO contracts are confusing.

Lotte's Lee Dae Ho is a Free Agent? That is interesting. I am surprised not to hear too much about other KBO teams looking to sign him. If my memory is correct, he is still a younger player, and has proven himself over the last 5 years to be a big productive bat in the lineup.

In my mind, Lee Dae Ho is a player that has the ability to win the Triple Crown.... IF HE WANTED TO. I do not know him, nor have I ever trained with him in the off season, but I always wondered why he reported to spring training really over weight. Even his playing weight is a little big and soft. Maybe genetics play a part in this, or maybe he takes it easy during the winter...I do not know.

But I DO KNOW THIS...the kid can flat out hit!

Lee Dae-ho and Hong are not true FA's. They have to negotiate their salary each year or something weird. Lee and Hong will be on Lotte again next season. The above list is what I've gathered from fans, the real list of FA's will be out next week. I'll try to post it up ASAP.

So in a sense, Hong's a FA, because his contract is up...but I guess he's a restricted FA.

Korea Times

Dan...solid post. Obviously these rules were put in place, by the KBO, to try to manage control of player salaries & also (in a good way) make it extremely difficult for the bigger spending Korean teams (aka Yankees) to gobble up all the best talent in the league.

BUT...because of these rules.....the KBO league will start to see it's star Korean players leave to play in Japan. A few have already opened the door....the rest will follow if they have the financial opportunity to do so.

Once the KBO realizes this...I am sure they will once again, make adjustments to the rule book. Doesn't it seem like this rule book changing is an annual thing?

Lotte signs Royster to a 1 year deal worth a total of $600,000.

I'll have the list of FA's up soon.