"Completed agreement with Ha Young-min in early July → He was essential to the team" Kiwoom draws a line on trade rumors

*This content was translated by AI.

While the Kiwoom Heroes have successfully secured their franchise pitcher Ha Young-min (31) with a major eight-year deal worth 8 billion won, club officials have clarified their stance on the negotiation process and specific background of this non-free agent multi-year contract.

A Kiwoom official explained the negotiation timeline via a phone call with StarNews on the morning of the 13th, stating, "The agreement with Ha Young-min was actually finalized last week (early this month)," and added, "We publicly announced it after holding the formal signing ceremony on the morning of the 13th."

Regarding recent rumors circulating both inside and outside the baseball community about trade talks with other teams, the official drew a clear line: "Internally, we have been continuously discussing Ha Young-min's multi-year contract and future plans since the first half of the season, starting from early in the year." The official further clarified, "We delivered our final terms to the player's side around the weekend home game against the Doosan Bears in early July. We reached a quick agreement through smooth coordination with the player, which has absolutely nothing to do with the recently resurfaced trade rumors."

This non-free agent multi-year contract between Ha Young-min and Kiwoom spans eight years (2027–2034) with a total value of 8 billion won including salary and options. It is the largest executed non-free agent multi-year deal in Kiwoom's history and ranks as the sixth-largest pitcher non-free agent multi-year contract in KBO League history, following Ryu Hyun-jin, Kim Kwang-hyun, Chu Chang-mo, Ko Young-pyo, and Park Se-woong. Ha Young-min's salary for this season is 210 million won, with the multi-year contract set to take effect from next season.

Explaining the background behind such an unprecedented long-term contract offer, the official emphasized the club's high regard for the player: "From a medium-to-long-term perspective, Ha Young-min is absolutely essential for stabilizing our pitching mound."

The official concluded by stating, "We highly evaluated Ha Young-min's silent dedication and contributions as a franchise player for Kiwoom over the years, as well as his performance as a key asset who has logged over 150 innings in consecutive seasons for the past two years. We made this decision considering his comprehensive value because we believed he would continue to firmly uphold our mound as the team's centerpiece."

Meanwhile, Ha Young-min attended the signing ceremony held on the morning of the 13th alongside his family to share in the joy. Given that he had recently announced via personal social networking services (SNS) the birth of his premature son 'Hi' slightly earlier than expected, this major contract became an even more meaningful milestone for him and his family.

While his son was hospitalized, Ha Young-min had to prepare for games carrying a heavy burden in his heart, and he always felt deeply sorry for his wife who struggled alone visiting the hospital. Even on the day of his son's healthy discharge, he bowed his head in regret because team responsibilities as a starting pitcher and the game schedule prevented him from accompanying them home.

Having overcome private hardships as a family man and secured this substantial contract, Ha Young-min told StarNews after becoming the winning pitcher in the June 27 match against the Changwon NC Dinos: "My wife endured far more emotional strain and hardship than I did. I will strive to be a father who does not bring shame to my wife and Hi for enduring until the end." The club also honored Ha Young-min's journey as he grew into the team's central pitcher through relentless effort, expressing hope that he would continue to serve as a representative hero of the Heroes and a reliable family man for many years.

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*This content was translated by AI.