Lee Jung-hoo (25), one of the best hitters in the KBO, is in talks with Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.


It is also interesting to see how much his original team, the Kiwoom Heroes, will receive in transfer fees as they try to enter the MLB through the posting system.


The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on Friday that "the MLB Secretariat notified 30 clubs of its intention to post Lee Jung-hoo and Ko Woo-seok (LG Twins) on April 4 at 4 p.m. ET."


After being named the KBO League's regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) last year, Lee publicly announced his intention to try out for MLB, and Ki accepted.


Kiwoom, which has expressed its willingness to support Lee's overseas endeavors, made the move soon after the 2023 season ended, submitting the necessary documents, including medical records, to the KBO on March 22. The KBO requested a posting announcement from MLB on the 24th.


On the same day, the MLB office announced that Lee was free to negotiate with all 30 MLB clubs. The negotiation period runs from 10 p.m. KST on Jan. 5 to 7 a.m. KST on Jan. 4 of next year.


Since turning pro in 2017, Lee has been one of the best hitters in the KBO. In 884 career games, he batted .340 with 65 home runs, 515 RBI, 69 doubles, 581 runs scored, and an OPS of 0.861.


He won his first batting title in 2021 with a .360 batting average, and last year he led the league in batting average (.349), runs (113), hits (193), slugging percentage (.421), and on-base percentage (.575) while winning five batting titles and earning MVP honors.


He was limited to 86 games this year due to an ankle injury, but he was a consistent performer. His natural ability to make contact and develop long balls has made him a complete hitter. He also excelled on the basepaths and in defense.


With all of this talent and still only in his mid-20s, the interest in Lee is intense. According to the New York Post, 20 teams - two-thirds of MLB teams - are interested in him.


With the fierce competition for Lee's services, his price tag is expected to be substantial, and the transfer fee that his original team Kiwoom will receive is also a concern.


According to the Korea-U.S. Professional Baseball Agreement, the transfer fee is paid to the original team based on the amount of the guaranteed contract offered by the MLB team to the player.


If the total guaranteed contract is $25 million or less, 20% of it is paid to the former club. Between $25 million and $50 million, it's 20% of $25 million ($5 million) plus 17.5% of the amount over $25 million.


If the total coverage exceeds $50 million, 20% of $25 million, 17.5% of $25 million to $50 million, and 15% of all amounts over $50 million are paid to all clubs.


While each major U.S. media outlet is slightly different, the general consensus is that Lee will sign a four- or five-year deal totaling around $60 million.

 ESPN projected five years and $63 million, while The Athletic projected four years and $60 million. CBS Sports has projected a six-year, $90 million deal.

If Lee signs a contract with $60 million in total guaranteed money, Kiwoom will take home $10.85 million (approximately $14.28 billion).

Kiwoom has previously capitalized on transfers as players have reached the MLB via the posting system.

The most recent example is Kim Ha-seong, who signed with the San Diego Padres after the 2020 season. He signed a four-year, $28 million guaranteed contract, and San Diego paid Kiwoom $5.52 million. 안전토토사이트 

Until 2017, the club that posted the most money had sole negotiating rights, and Kiwoom pocketed the big bucks by sending Kang Jeong-ho and Park Byung-ho.

In late 2014, Nexen (now Kiwoom) shortstop Kang Jeong-ho announced his intention to play in the MLB, and Pittsburgh submitted a $5.15 million bid to win the exclusive negotiating rights to sign him. Kang signed a 4+1 year deal totaling $16.5 million.

Park Byung-ho (now KT Wiz), who was the leadoff hitter for the Nexen, signed a four-year, $12.85 million guaranteed deal with the Minnesota Twins after the Twins undercut his posting of $12.2 million.

Now it's Lee's turn. With the current climate, there is a good chance that Kiwoom will hit the 'jackpot' once again.