Kang Min-ho sincerely said to Son Ah-seop, "I'm a close brother, but even I can't contact him."→I wish you good news

*This content was translated by AI.

Kang Min-ho (41, Samsung Lions) and Son Ah-seop (38, former Hanwha Eagles), who have been known as "best friends" in baseball since the Lotte Giants. The two have had a strong friendship as strong as brothers throughout life and death since Lotte's days, but "Veteran" Kang Min-ho also could not hide his caution in front of Son Ah-seop's recent situation.

During an interview with Star News during "Kang Restaurant 3" held at a restaurant in Suseong-gu, Daegu on the 10th, Kang Min-ho carefully took his luck when asked about Son Ah-seop. "(Son) Ah-seop is a very close younger brother," he said. But even I can't get in touch because it's burdensome. I'm probably having a hard time, but I hope there's good news," he said.

Son Ah-seop, who exercised his third free agent right, is a hot topic in the baseball world recently. This is because it is a typewriter who has hit the most hits in KBO league history with 2,618 hits. Son Ah-seop, who was traded from the NC Dinos to the Hanwha Eagles in the 2025 season, became an FA after recording a batting average of 0.288 (107 hits in 372 times at bat) and a home run and 50 RBIs (on-base plus slugging) of 0.723.

Son Ah-seop appeared in the FA market, but cold evaluations continue. Although he received a C grade that does not require compensation players, the compensation alone is 750 million won (150% of last year's 500 million won annual salary).

Moreover, Hanwha, the original club, recruited Kang Baek-ho (27) to fill Son Ah-seop's vacancy. On top of that, even foreign batters were brought in Jonathan Peraza (28), who has a similar type to Son Ah-seop. On top of that, priorities seem to have been pushed back on negotiations for Roh Si-hwan (26)'s non-FA multi-year contract and another FA left-hander Kim Bum-soo (31) rather than negotiations for Son Ah-seop. Nevertheless, Son left for the Philippines as usual to prepare for the 2026 season. He left the negotiations to his agent and began to build his body according to his routine.

Baseball circles believe that Hanwha, its original club, also allows Son Ah-seop to sign and trade. However, there are few teams of interest. Moreover, since it is a transaction between clubs, the interests of both sides must also be matched. He is considered a leading hitter who can hit 3,000 hits in the KBO league, but the situation is cold.

Hwang Jae-gyun (39), a former teammate of Lotte who announced his retirement from active duty in December last year, also expressed his regret for Son Ah-seop. At a meeting with reporters at LG Champions Park in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do on the 7th, he said, "I'm talking a lot with (Son) Ah-seop." The situation (FA market) is not good right now and Aseob is having a hard time, he said. "I can't even say anything because I'm too close (to be tired). I told you to do what you want and to hold on," he said.

Although it is a professional world dominated by the logic of the harsh market, colleagues' sincerity toward Son Ah-seop is consistent. Most clubs will leave spring camp after the 20th. It's less than two weeks away. In which club will Son Ah-seop enter the 2026 season.

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*This content was translated by AI.