The San Diego Padres are in the same situation as the storm’s eve before the offseason. The U.S. media believes that trading of the main players will be inevitable if the team pushes ahead with the trend of reducing the team’s pay roll from about $250 million to $200 million.

Juan Soto, who came to San Diego after rejecting the Washington Nationals’ 15-year, $440 million (about 589.8 billion won) extension contract ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, seems certain to be traded. There are many views that they should pay $30 million a year next year alone, and it is predicted that they will want an extension contract of at least $400 million. San Diego’s pay-cut stance should be considered difficult to accept.

For San Diego, the best option is to trade Soto just before the trade deadline next year, rather than being taken away from the 2024-2025 FA market and empty-handed. If you trade, there are fewer off-season when demand is high demand. However, he pointed out that if San Diego gives up Soto, it should also pay in return. 스포츠토토

San Diego’s Trant Grisham and Jose Azoka played outside the center this year, but the batting was not good. Thanks to left fielder Soto and right fielder Fernando Tartisu Jr., it was only less noticeable. However, if he breaks up with Soto, it is clear that outfield productivity will be poor, and alternatives are needed.

MLB Trade Rumours said on the 11th (Korea time), “Tatis has adapted well to right field, so you can consider moving to center field and selling Grisham. At that point, you have to bring another bat from the opposite corner. If Soto is traded, he should make a bigger swing in the outfield market, whether he trades Santander or chasing KBO star Lee Jung-hoo with FA.

The 2023-2024 FA market is the starting pitcher market. If a team needs an outfielder, it is worth considering recruiting Lee Jung-hoo at an inexpensive price. Lee Jung-hoo will not be a big burden on a team with a pay-cut stance like San Diego. In other words, if Soto is traded, Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Ha-sung could lead to a reunion in San Diego.

Of course, MLB Trade Rumours pointed out that San Diego could trade Kim Ha-sung, who has one year left in the FA like Soto. In other words, Kim Ha-sung can also organize in advance because he is certain that his ransom will rise in a year. However, it was also pointed out that if Kim Ha-sung, with a four-year guarantee of $28 million, the negative impact on power could be greater than the pay-cut effect.

“Korean Express” Park Chan-ho visited Kiwoom’s Arizona Spring Camp in February and said San Diego continues to pay attention to Lee Jung-hoo. He also confessed that he was stepping on the club as a special advisor and that he had actually told the club people about Lee Jung-hoo.

At this point, the trend of Lee Jung-hoo’s recruitment is by far the San Francisco Giants. General manager Pete Purilla visited Gocheok Samsung on the 10th, sensing that Lee Jung-hoo could have a return match. San Diego is relatively quiet, but no one can know the end of the recruitment battle until the lid of the FA market is opened.

If Soto leaves San Diego and Lee Jung-hoo goes to the San Diego outfield, so if he joins the team with his best friend Kim Ha-sung, it will be a big topic in many ways. If Lee Jung-hoo signs with San Diego, his official debut is likely to be held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 20 next year. Will he make his San Diego debut at Kiwoom’s home stadium where he has been in for seven years? Wearing the same uniform as Kim Ha-sung? It’s not just about catching floating clouds.