Shock revelation from the U.S.! "SF Giants want to shed Lee Jung-hoo's remaining salary of 124.6 billion won; signs of giving up on the season already visible"

*This content was translated by AI.

A shocking local report has emerged suggesting that the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB) are looking to move on from high-salary players, including Lee Jung-hoo (27), a key figure on the team with a massive contract. Analysts say that due to poor performance and criticism labeling them as the "worst team," the Giants have begun to press the "reset" button and abandon the season.

According to a report by USA Today on the 11th (Korean time), the San Francisco Giants are reportedly planning a major roster overhaul to address their severe performance slump and entrenched aging issues.

In fact, as of the 11th, just before their game, the Giants sit in last place in the National League West with a record of 15 wins and 24 losses (winning percentage 0.385). Doubts are growing about the leadership of Tony Vitello (48), who was brought in with high hopes from college baseball. Although he is set to receive a three-year contract worth $10.5 million (approximately 15.4 billion won) for this season, analysts note that his lack of major league experience has led to struggles. After the game on the 10th, home fans even began booing the manager.

In this context, the shocking detail is that Lee Jung-hoo's name has appeared on a "list of players to be traded." In a trade outlook article, USA Today reported, "The Giants want to move on from high-salary players including Lee Jung-hoo, infielder Willy Adames (31), infielder Rafah Devers (30), and infielder Matt Chapman (33), and start over for the first time. They no longer have the luxury to indulge in such extravagance."

According to the report, Lee Jung-hoo's remaining salary is $85 million (approximately 124.6 billion won), Adames' is $161 million (approximately 235.9 billion won), Devers' is $226.5 million (approximately 293.1 billion won), and Chapman's is $125 million (approximately 183.2 billion won). Among them, Lee Jung-hoo has the smallest remaining salary and is the youngest. While it is realistically difficult to find a team willing to take on all of them, the mere fact that the club's internal management has begun to view their contracts as a "barrier" has already caused a significant stir locally.

The Giants' shift in direction was already demonstrated in a surprise trade executed on the 10th. Buster Posey, the team's president of baseball operations, sent Patrick Bailey (27), the team's starting catcher and a two-time Gold Glove winner, to the Cleveland Guardians.

Bailey was suffering from severe offensive struggles this season, batting just 0.146 (12 hits in 82 at-bats) with an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.396. However, sending a core catcher who symbolizes the team mid-season shows how deeply frustrated Posey is with the current team composition. In exchange for Bailey, the Giants received left-handed prospect Matt Wilkinson and a 29th-round draft pick. The move is widely interpreted as the team effectively giving up on the season, akin to "stop-loss selling."

Local experts believe the Giants are now prepared to put even their most valuable starting pitchers on the market. Trade rumors have surfaced not only for Robbie Ray, who is approaching free agency, but also for Logan Webb, the team's undisputed ace.

A senior executive at a major league team told USA Today, "The Giants have become a team that is aging, not producing results, yet spending heavily." He added, "The prevailing view is that trading Logan Webb makes too much sense for the team's future." However, USA Today noted, "Webb is still a top starting pitcher with three years remaining on his contract, so a trade seems unlikely."

Lee Jung-hoo joined the San Francisco Giants ahead of the 2024 season after leaving the Kiwoom Heroes. He made a flashy debut by signing a massive six-year, $113 million (approximately 165.6 billion won) contract. However, as the team has failed to post a winning record even once since 2021 and has fallen into the status of a "graveyard for high-salary players," Lee has found himself on the club's "contract cleanup list" against his will. Moreover, it is somewhat disappointing that Lee, who has played in 39 games this season with a batting average of 0.268 (38 hits in 142 at-bats), two home runs, 12 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.692, has only slightly improved from his early-season slump.

The entire major league community is watching closely to see how the San Francisco Giants will actually utilize the "Lee Jung-hoo card" in this trade market and how this shocking revelation will unfold.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.