LG, which won the Korean Series title for the first time in 29 years, plans to capture all of the FA Ham Deok-ju, Lim Chan-kyu and Kim Min-sung in the team, but none of them have announced their contracts yet. At an award ceremony, Cha Myung-seok exchanged pleasant jokes about FA negotiations with FA pitcher Lim Chan-kyu (31). 파워볼실시간

At the Ilgoo Awards ceremony held on Friday, Cha Myung-seok won the front desk award on behalf of the LG team, and Lim Chan-kyu won the best pitcher award. “It was quite difficult to attract 1.2 million spectators, and it was also difficult to win in 29 years. However, the most difficult thing is the FA contract with Lim Chan-kyu. Now, A and B have changed their positions. While you’re here, please don’t just go and give me your autograph,” Cha made the audience laugh.

When Lim Chan-kyu won the Best Pitcher Award, general manager Cha Myung-seok gave a bouquet of flowers and made a pleasant scene while gesturing, “Let’s sign it.” Afterwards, Lim Chan-kyu jokingly responded, “I can’t sign because I left my stamp at home.”

The FA negotiations have been delayed as Cha Myung-seok, the head of the team, had to prepare and deal with the group’s reporting work at the end of November. In addition, Lim Chan-kyu’s agent Lee Ye-rang, head of Rico Sports, visited the U.S. to attend the Major League’s winter meeting regarding Ko Woo-suk’s posting in early December, and negotiations have not progressed in earnest.

In 30 games (26 starts) this year, Lim Chan-kyu had 14 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 3.42. He ranked third with multiple wins (14 wins) and second with an ERA of 0.824. However, Lim only had one win and eight losses with a 3.87 ERA in 17 games in 2021, and he showed sluggish performance with 6 wins and 11 losses with a 5.04 ERA in 23 games in 2022. He could have qualified as an FA last year, but gave up and chose to return to the FA.

This year’s outstanding performance could be a temporary flash, or it could be seen that this year’s pitching style has newly opened its eyes. CEO Lee Yerang has been signing contracts in various ways, rather than a four-year contract in FA negotiations.

Four years ago, Ahn Chi-hong led Lotte to a two-plus-two-year contract that included opt-out ahead of the 2020 season. Lotte signed a two-year FA contract for up to 2.6 billion won (with a guarantee of 2 billion won, options of 500 million won, and buy-out of 100 million won). Ahn Chi-hong had the right to opt-out, and Lotte had a contract renewal or buy-out clause two years later. After playing two years, he signed a two-year contract with a maximum of 3.1 billion won for +2 years, which was actually a maximum of 5.6 billion won for 2+2 years.

An Chi-hong did not exercise opt-out, and played for Lotte for four years. An Chi-hong, who became an FA again this year, left Lotte and signed an FA contract with Hanwha for up to 7.2 billion won for 4+2 years. The agent in this contract was also representative Lee Yerang.

Lee is a big hand for FA players. He also signed a four-plus-two-year contract worth up to 7.8 billion won between Yang and Doosan. FA closer Kim Jae-yoon signed a four-year, 5.8 billion won contract with Samsung, whose agent was Lee.

Lim may want a more stable long-term contract than a 32-year-old, four-year contract next year. If Lim is confident in his outstanding performance like this year, he may ask for an opt-out clause in consideration of the demands of FA starting pitchers in the future. With a better performance for a year or two, he may be offered better conditions in the market.