Does the Kia Tigers need at least 6 billion won (6 million U.S. dollars) in preparation for non-FA multi-year contracts? It is a very difficult issue to choose between infielder Park Chan-ho, outfielder Choi Won-joon and pitcher Jo Sang-woo, who are scheduled to become a free agent in 2026.토토사이트
KIA traded pitcher Cho Sang-woo from Kiwoom Heroes on the 19th after giving 1 billion won in cash and the first and fourth rounds of rookies in 2026.
A source at Kia said, "We have agreed on the need to strengthen our bullpen as well as the field. Cho is a proven pitcher who boasts various pitching styles including splitters, changeups and curves, and is the main weapon of this trade. As Cho has been a must-winner in the KBO League and international competitions, he is expected to be of great help to his team going forward."
After recruiting Cho Sang-woo, Kia announced in succession its contract with internal FA pitcher Lim Ki-young for a three-year stay of 1.5 billion won (1.5 million U.S. dollars). It is also expected to continue negotiations with internal FA infielder Seo Kun-chang.
Jo Sang-woo's acquisition of the trade means that Kia has made a bold move not to maintain its capability but to improve its capability. Despite the loss of rookie nomination rights, Kia is strongly determined within its team to win the V13 title for two consecutive years in 2025.
The move is also taking into account the possibility of leaking 2026 FA. Key players of Kia will acquire the FA license after the end of the 2025 season. Key shortstop Park Chan-ho, key center fielder Choi Won-joon, and Cho Sang-woo, who was brought in through a trade, will prepare for the 2025 season as preliminary FA. Veteran Choi Hyung-woo and Yang Hyeon-jong will also acquire the third FA license, but in fact, they are highly likely to stay at Kia.
Of course, Kia can make choices and focus. Another key is which of Park Chan-ho, Choi Won-joon and Cho Sang-woo will be held in advance through non-FA multi-year contracts.
Park played in 134 games during the 2024 season, batting average of 0.307, 158 hits, five homers, 61 RBIs, 20 steals, on-base percentage of 0.363, and slugging percentage of 0.386. Park won the KBO Golden Glove for the first time since his debut.
In 136 games during the 2024 season, Choi had a batting average of 0.292, 128 hits, nine homers, 56 RBIs, 21 steals, an on-base percentage of 0.371, and a slugging percentage of 0.420. Choi has firmly established himself as the main outfielder as he alternated between center field and right field.
KIA is in an atmosphere where it is inevitable to spend a large amount of money even if one of Park Chan-ho, Choi Won-joon and Jo Sang-woo signs a non-FA multi-year contract. In the case of shortstop, Shim Woo-joon chose to transfer to Hanwha Eagles with a total of 5 billion won for four years this winter. In the case of center fielder, Park Hae-min decided to transfer to LG Twins with a total of 6 billion won for four years three years ago. In the case of the closing pitcher, Kim Won-joong signed a four-year total of 5.4 billion won this winter.
Considering the market price of FA in question recently, Kia seems to have to push for a non-FA multi-year contract worth at least 6 billion won (approx. It should also have a very difficult time of agonizing over which player in its team will be the most irreplaceable player during the 2025 season. It should also be agonizing over the fact that it cannot easily give up Cho Sang-woo, who earned two rookie nominations.