Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KoreanLifer]

this guy is not satisfied with a $1,000,000US a year offer!what MLB team will break the bank on a guy who has never proved himself in the real baseball world?

Lee SY Unhappy With Offers



South Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop�s bid to forge a career for himself in the Major Leagues has hit a snag with the Asian home run record holder being offered contracts below what he expected by a pair of teams.

The Samsung Lions first baseman, a free agent after this past season, met with the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday but both teams reportedly tabled deals below $1 million for a season, while the 27-year-old expected at least $1.5 million.

The Mariners also said they remained uncertain over Lee�s skill with Seattle�s vice president for player personnel Roger Jongewaard telling the Seattle Times, ``We�d probably send him to Triple-A to see if he is the real deal.��

Lee, who hit an Asian record 56 homers this season, told reporters that he liked the Dodgers� family-like atmosphere after meeting the team�s vice president Tommy Lasorda and general manager Don Evans with his agent John Kim.

``I feel like I�ve been here before although I am here for the first time,�� Lee said. ``The atmosphere was much better than with the Mariners. I want to play for the Dodgers.��

Evans also responded by saying to the Los Angeles Times, ``The Dodgers have always been pioneers internationally. We�re not afraid to take a risk. � We�re weighing the risk-reward factor.��

The newspaper, however, quoted another club official as saying ``In no way are we diverting our attention from (Richie) Sexson and (Derrek) Lee. We see this guy in more of a subordinate role.��

This implies that L.A. consider Lee an insurance in case their quest for a high-profile first baseman falls through. The National League team is currently chasing Sexson of the Milwaukee Brewers and Lee of the Florida Marlins.

Lee�s experience so far is in sharp contrast to that of Japanese big leaguers like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. The Mariners paid $13 million to Ichiro�s former team the Orix Blue Wave in late 2000 just for negotiating rights and signed the outfielder to a three-year deal worth $14 million.

The New York Yankees spent $21 million on a three-year deal for Matsui, who made his Major League debut this year. The left-hitting outfielder received $6 million this year and will be paid $7 million and $8 million for the next two seasons.

Keeping a close eye on Lee�s U.S. trip, Samsung Lions president Kim Jae-ha said the Korea Baseball Organization team is ready to reward Lee with a lucrative contract if he returns. ``If he fails to make it to the Majors, we will honor the best Korean hitter with a mega deal,�� Kim told The Korea Times.

Kim refused to give more details but considering Lee�s salary for last season was 630 million won ($534,000), it is being predicted that he could make more than 5 billion won should he strike a multi-year deal.

However, Lee said he would keep chasing his Major League dream and preferred a one-year contract should he play in Korea or Japan.

Lee said he wanted to take a rest without meeting another team during the remainder of his visit. He is scheduled to return home on Nov. 27.

[matko]

He should go to Japan first. If he can succeed here he has a chance at the majors.

From what I remember, the Korean league was at best triple a ball in the States, probably closer to AA.

Has anything changed in the last 5 years?

[Alias]

There is nothing wrong with having to prove himself at the AAA level. He should just take the contract. Worst case scenario is that he ends up back in Korea a million dollars richer.

[bucheon bum]

more than a million/year? And all he's done is tear up the K-League. Yeah ok, dude, get off the crack.

[Dan]

I wasn't at all impressed by korean baseball, not that i watch much baseball anyway, but $1 million a year sounds reasonable.

At the same time, $1 million a year must seem small if you are being offered much more from korean teams.

[Yaya]

[Alias]

How much did he make last year in the KBO?

Anyone know what an average KBO player would make?

[candu]

He can't field worth sh*t, isn't great against lefties, and is proving to have a really bad attitude (ie - believes he is the second coming of Ichiro, if not Christ!) 56 homers in Korea was impressive - and has his offensive output here has been strong and steady for a few years - but while he may be a star here, this does not automatically translate into MLB stardom. Just think of how many great college football or basketball players - or junior hockey players - tear things up at lower levels of competition, yet cannot make the jump to the big leagues, often owing to inadequate size, poor defensive skills, or a general lack of versatility. He's been scouted by plenty of big league scouts, and most aren't convinced he can make the transition. Maybe they're mistaken, but I guess it's up to Lee to prove them wrong.

Worst of all, in Lee's case, he appears to genuinely believe the Korean media hype about himself ("Asian Home Run King") and seems to feel he has nothing more to prove. Considering that Seattle, LA, and possibly Anaheim and SF have been the only teams to show interest - Seattle would want him to start in AAA, and LA suggested he would be a back-up - it would seem that just a few teams are interested in giving him a quick look at best, leading me to think there is a lot that remains to be proven. (Sadly, there is some speculation that west coast teams may be more concerned with selling tickets to local Korean populations than having Lee play 1B, or for American League teams, ideally as the DH where he doesn't have to field.)

A month ago, I'd have been sorry to see the obvious absence of interest in Lee from MLB teams, but considering the superstar attitude he's been copping over there (along with the "I get no respect" routine, there is the limo and sunglasses-wearing security detail to fight off the handful of reporters - seemingly all Korean - covering his visit) I can already imagine him back in that Samsung Lions uniform next spring, likely moaning about how some conspiracy against himself, Korean baseball, etc. is standing between him and his big league dream. My guess is that he would sooner return to safety and a pay rise in Korean baseball, than sign a MLB contract that doesn't meet his lofty expectations and face the possibility of fighting for - and maybe losing - a roster spot.

[Dan]

a little off topic, but i think sports stars have to be arrogant. seriously. they need that swagger. take for example Yao Ming, who is a great basketball player, but because he is so humble he gives up opportunities to dominate a game.

then take Allen Iverson, who i know isn't the most popular guy, but through his own swear belief in himself makes for a great player, even though he's like 5'10".

[jurassic5]

although i'm a huge fan of the KBO (see signature), I think that Lee Seung-yeop is a little overrated and looking for too much money. If he really wants to make it in the MLB, he has to become a better fielder and prove that he can hit legit and solid pitching...so he should sign a multi-year contract with a huge signing bonus and start from AAA and go from there. I personally think that Choi Hee-seop is a better player than Lee.


P.S. what does everyone think of Ha Seung-jin, the college freshman at Yonsei who is going to the states to enter the NBA draft?

[just because]

I think he should take the million dollar contract. If he is so good he will have no problem proving himself and level up to the big time. Maybe he has too many yes men around him.

The ha-Seung-Jin thing is a little ridiculous in my opinion. Wow, he kicked ass in Korean high school, mainly because he is about a foot taller than everyone else. I'm not denying he has talent but no way he has NBA talent at the moment. what he should do is have a crack at the KBL next year and find his level. I think he may go well here where there is a big lack of Korean big man(the exception being Samsungs Seo Jeong Hoon) and the team can have three big men(ha plus 2 americans). if he kicks in the KBL then maybe consider the NBA. Also another athlete with too many yes men(or maybe just his dad).

BTW..Jurassic i love the KBL, go the SAKERS!!! nearly got into a fight last week with a Busan fan. I love the spirit of sport

[hellofaniceguy]

Correct me if I have the wrong info with Lee hitting those home runs, but are korean ballparks smaller than MLB? I heard that from the plate to the back wall, the distance is shorter.

[Yaya]

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

Is baseball the one with the sticks and the skates?

[just because]