Cody Bellinger (28), who was evaluated as the biggest center fielder free agent along with San Francisco Giants Lee Jeong-hoo (25), wants a contract worth more than $200 million.
The American media New York Post reported on the 18th (Korean time), “Toronto lost the competition to recruit Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) and missed the opportunity to recruit Juan Soto (Yankees)
so it is expected that they will now turn their attention to star outfielder Cody Bellinger. “He said.
Bellinger is a star player who won the National League MVP award in 2019. However, after winning the MVP award 바카라사이트닷컴
he suffered a steady decline and was eventually released by the Dodgers as a non-tender after the 2022 season.
Bellinger, who signed a one-year contract with the Cubs for $17.5 million (approximately 22.7 billion won), successfully rebounded this year by hitting .307 in 130 games (153 hits in 499 at-bats), 26 home runs, 97 RBI, and an OPS of .881.
Bellinger, who qualified as a free agent at the end of the season, attracted attention as the largest free agent center fielder along with Lee Jeong-hoo, who attempted to advance to the major leagues through posting.
Lee Jeong-hoo is Korea's best hitter with a batting average of .344 (1,181 hits in 3,476 at-bats), 65 home runs, 515 RBIs, and an OPS of .898 in 884 games in the KBO League, but he does not have a single major league experience.
Therefore, although he received many inquiries from major league clubs, expectations for his mega-contract were not actually high.
However, Lee Jung-hoo surprised baseball fans by signing a six-year, $113 million (approximately 147.4 billion won) contract with San Francisco.
With Ohtani, the largest free agent, signing a 10-year contract with the Dodgers worth $700 million (approximately 908.5 billion won), and Lee Jung-hoo going to San Francisco,
teams looking to recruit left-handed hitters have few options left. Naturally, Bellinger's price is also rising.
The New York Post said, “Toronto is looking for a left-handed hitter.
Now your options are limited. Bellinger said his first year on the (Chicago) North Side was very good, and the Cubs remain a contender to land Bellinger.
Bellinger is looking for a $200 million (approximately 259.5 billion won) contract,” he explained.
In this winter's free agent market, where there are not many star players, the price of star players is skyrocketing.
Ohtani broke the record for the highest contract in professional sports history (Lionel Messi, 5 years, $674 million), surpassing the record for the largest contract in Major League history (Mike Trout, 12 years, $426.5 million), and Lee Jung-hoo, who has no Major League experience, also signed for 6 years.
Won the largest contract for an Asian fielder entering the Major League at $113 million. Like Jeong-hoo Lee, Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix),
who has no major league experience, is being talked about signing a contract worth as much as $300 million (about 389.3 billion won).
In these market conditions, it is not surprising that Bellinger wants a $200 million contract.
Attention is being paid to whether Toronto, which wants to recruit a left-handed hitter, and Bellinger, who wants a $200 million contract, can reach an agreement or whether another team will take Bellinger.