*This content was translated by AI.
Won Tae-in (26), the "Blue Blood Ace" of the Samsung Lions, signed an annual salary of 1 billion won in the 2026 season, setting a record for the highest annual salary in his eighth year in the KBO League with Hanwha Eagles infielder Noh Si-hwan (26). The previous record of the highest annual salary for an eighth-year player was 700 million won that Kang Baek-ho (27, current Hanwha Eagles) received from KT Wiz in the 2025 season.
On the 25th, Samsung announced the details of its salary contract for the 2026 season. According to the report, Won Tae-in reached an agreement of 1 billion won, a significant increase from the previous year when he received 630 million won. This is an unconventional treatment that took place just a year before obtaining a free agent (FA) qualification. In terms of the increase rate, 58.7%, but the increase was 370 million won, the highest in the team.
The industry evaluates that this is a figure that thoroughly reflects the situation of Won Tae-in, who will become a preliminary FA. If Won Tae-in finishes the 2026 season normally, he can exercise his FA rights. According to the current KBO rules, clubs that recruit FAA-grade players must compensate "200% of the previous year's salary and one other than 20 protected players" or "300% of the annual salary" if there is no compensation player in the original fastball team. If Won Tae-in comes to the market after the end of the 2026 season, other clubs who want to recruit him will have to pay at least 2 billion won, compensation players, or 3 billion won in cash alone to Samsung.
In general, FA compensation of up to 3 billion won is a strong barrier to entry to prevent transfers to other teams. However, the industry's view is that Won Tae-in's case is different. A club official said, "A pitcher who has already won the title of multiple wins in his mid-20s and is clearly responsible for more than 150 innings every year is the number one recruitment list." Another official said, "Indigenous starting pitchers who can calculate are subject to recruitment if they come to the market. I was sure that all clubs would check it."
Won Tae-in was truly the ace of Samsung. Won Tae-in, who played in 27 games in the 2025 season with a record of 12 wins, 4 losses and a 3.24 ERA, showed excellent durability after wearing the uniform as Samsung's first designation in 2019, playing 20 games and more than 100 innings for as many as seven consecutive seasons. In particular, he left a respectable record of 68-50 with a 3.77 ERA in 187 KBO league games. Above all, he won 15 games in the 2024 season and won the title of the most wins.
For this reason, Won Tae-in's team, Samsung, is pursuing a non-FA multi-year contract. If Won Tae-in goes to the FA market, both Samsung and the players cannot be unaware of the prospect that virtually all clubs will show interest. Therefore, first of all, Samsung seems to have a clear respect for the 2026 season and at the same time promote the pride of being a "one-club man."
Whether or not to advance to the Major League is also expected to act as a variable to some extent. It is already said that challenging the U.S. stage is not a bad option among players. Because there is a perception that it is an option with less risk of being treated relatively well in the KBO league even if it fails as well as challenges. Therefore, the World Baseball Classic (WBC), which will be held in March for Won Tae-in, is expected to be an important showcase.
Whether Won Tae-in will remain Samsung's eternal "Ace" or break down the wall of up to 3 billion won in compensation and become the all-time "sell" of the FA market, baseball's eyes are already on the end of the 2026 season.
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*This content was translated by AI.
