The possibility of Kwon Hee-dong (33) remaining in the NC is gradually increasing.
An NC official said in a phone call on the 20th, “I haven’t had a specific conversation with the player, but it is true that the possibility of Kwon Hee-dong remaining on the team has increased.”
Kwon Hee-dong declared free agency after last season, but has yet to find a team. As he was classified as a B-class FA, the stumbling block was that he had to give up compensation players to sign. Like Lee Myung-gi (36), who moved to Hanwha earlier, the possibility of a ‘sign and trade’ remains, but the NC side said, “There have been no specific trade offers from other clubs yet.” 메이저사이트
Lee Myeong-gi, who declared free agency in NC with Kwon Hee-dong, moved to Hanwha on the 14th with catcher Lee Jae-yong (24). Hanwha gave infielder Cho Hyun-jin (21) and the right to pick in the 7th round of the 2024 rookie draft. In the case of Kwon Hee-dong, who is younger than Lee Myung-gi and has a long hitting ability, the general opinion is that the conditions that NC want are bound to be greater.
If Kwon Hee-dong remains in NC, he will have to discuss the terms of the contract again. Last season, Kwon Hee-dong received 110 million won as an annual salary. There may also be differences of opinion about his role. NC recruited Han Seok-hyun (29) as a Futures free agent in November last year. There are many young players on the team. NC has entered the rebuilding phase. It is a situation where we need to give more opportunities to promising players.
Kwon Hee-dong, who can play any position in the outfield, hit 81 homers in 9 seasons in the KBO. Even in 2020, his final full-time season, he touted with 12 homers and a 0.789 OPS. However, in the middle of the 2021 season, the season ended absurdly due to a violation of the Corona 19 quarantine rules. He returned last season, but only had a batting average of 0.223. He suffered the worst slump of the season facing free agency, and his blow was great.
In a phone call, Kwon Hee-dong said, “A professional player cannot make an excuse saying, ‘I couldn’t do it because of the situation. He seems to have no choice but to show a new one,” he said. Kwon Hee-dong is training at a lesson center in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, run by Jeong Su-min, who he played with in NC in the past. He said that he was in a similar situation and was told by his senior Lee Myeong-gi, who saved the team first, to “keep working out.” I am interested in whether Kwon Hee-dong will find a chance to restore his honor.