It's 'PS ERA 11.16 Autumn Baseball Bird Chest', but A grade... Choi Won-tae, the biggest fish in the starting line, why the situation is more disadvantageous than Um Sang-baek
It's 'PS ERA 11.16 Autumn Baseball Bird Chest', but A grade... Choi Won-tae, the biggest fish in the starting line, why the situation is more disadvantageous than Um Sang-baek
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Will Choi Won-tae (27), who revealed his weaknesses in the postseason last season, be able to find a new team?먹튀검증
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced 20 approved players out of 30 who were announced as 2025 FA qualification players on the 5th.
Choi Won-tae was also included in the list. Choi, who played for the Kiwoom Heroes for nine seasons, showed his best performance after joining the team in the 2023 season. He played a key role in the starting lineup with six wins, two losses and an ERA of 3.25 in 17 games.
LG was caught by LG's radar thanks to its strong performance in the 2023 season. Having challenged to win the Korean Series for the first time in 29 years, LG acquired Choi Won-tae in a trade to reinforce its starting lineup in Korea. LG gave up infielder Lee Ju-hyung and pitcher Kim Dong-gyu and the first round pick for the 2024 rookie draft to Kiwoom, and kept Choi Won-tae in mind.
Contrary to expectations, he did not display satisfactory performance at LG. Since moving to LG, he has shown sluggish performance in nine games, with three wins and three losses and an earned run average of 6.70. In the second game of the Korean Series, he was substituted early as he allowed two hits, two walks, and four runs in ⅓ innings. While LG won the Korean Series, Choi did not contribute much.
The team failed to rebound significantly in the 2024 season. During the regular season, the team recorded nine wins, seven losses and an ERA of 4.26 in 24 games, but suffered sharp decline in the post season. In the third and semi-playoff games against the KT Wiz, which tied the game at one win and one loss, the team showed sluggish performance by allowing three runs (two earned runs) in two ⅔ innings. In the first playoff game against the Samsung Lions, the team collapsed by allowing seven hits, two homers and five runs in three innings. LG lost to the Samsung Lions by one win and three losses, failing to advance to the Korean Series.
Choi, who became a free agent after the end of the 2024 season, applied for a free agent. Choi is considered one of the biggest starting pitchers along with Eom Sang-baek of the KT Wiz, but the situation is at a disadvantage compared to Eom. He is one year younger than Eom, but the fact that he has continued his slump since joining LG is a stumbling block. Another reason for his hesitation to invest is that his fall baseball performances at Kiwoom and LG were two losses, one save and three holds an ERA of 11.16 in 17 games.
The most decisive factor is the grade. Unlike Eom Sang-baek who is in grade B, Choi is in grade A. The compensation rule for A-grade players is 200 percent of their previous year's salary, one other than 20 protected players, or 300 percent of their previous year's salary. Grade B is 100 percent of their previous year's salary, 25 protected players, or 200 percent of their previous year's salary, which is less burdensome than grade A.
Even clubs that need to reinforce starting pitchers because of compensation players are likely to approach Um Sang-baek first, not Choi Won-tae. In the worst case, there is a possibility that a club that wants Choi Won-tae will not appear. This is why the outlook for A-grade Choi Won-tae is not bright.