One of the points of the ‘FA rating system’ applied from the 2021 free agent (FA) was the C grade. The main point of the ‘FA rating system’ is to apply different compensation plans after subdividing FA grades from A to C, taking into account annual salary and age. Class C requires only compensation of 150% of the previous year’s annual salary of the player who wants to recruit without player compensation. This is the background of the evaluation that “a C-grade transfer can be actively carried out.”
Of the 21 players who appeared on the professional baseball FA market this winter, 9 were grade C. Of these, 7 have been confirmed. Some players, such as Oh Tae-gon (SSG Landers, up to 1.8 billion won in 4 years) and Lee Tae-yang (Hanwha Eagles, up to 2.5 billion won in 4 years), took advantage of the C-class and won contracts that exceeded expectations. Won Jong-hyun (Kiwoom Heroes, total of 2.5 billion won for 4 years), who was ranked C at the age of ’35 or older’, was able to leave the NC Dinos and transfer, but the fact that there was no player compensation was not small. Most clubs are reluctant to compensate players because they can be compared with the players they recruit.
However, there is also a flip side to the C grade. Currently, Kang Ri-ho (former Lotte Giants) and Lee Myung-gi (NC) are uncontracted among C-class free agents in the KBO League. Negotiations with the original clubs for both players were not smooth. However, the transfer discussion is not active. The problem is that there are not many ways to break through the blocked passage. It is possible to switch the phase with FA A or B ranks by sign and trade (transfer after signing contract), but for C ranks, ‘sart’ does not mean much. An official from a club said, “‘SAT’ is a way to reduce the burden when most of the players are given out to protect players. Class C has no compensation for players, so what’s the use of ‘SAT’? (Uncontracted and in the FA market) For C-level transfers, the key is how much compensation is reduced.”
Class C free agents are mostly players who are older or who are not the club’s main players. If you can’t win a contract with a C grade, it has no choice but to be interpreted as meaning that the player’s value has fallen that much. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to think about retirement. In this process, not small noise is also generated. It is known that Kang Ri-ho signed a one-year contract and requested Lotte to release the right to reserve one year later. 슬롯사이트 According to the current KBO rules, if you sign a free agent contract for less than 4 years, your team has the right to withhold for 4 years. During this period, transfers are not possible without the permission of the affiliated club. There is no reason for Lotte to accept this because the meaning of ‘release the reservation right after one year’ is the same as leaving the team after one year.
Kang Ri-ho also conducted a personal broadcast on social media (SNS) to clarify this part. The conflict between the club and the player seems to be deepening. A club official said, “I think the players must have felt that they shouldn’t blindly apply for free agency this winter just because they are in the C grade. In the end, the value in the free agent market is determined by demand, supply, and ability.”