Lee Geun-ho’s time in the Daegu FC jersey is over. As with everything in the world, where there is a beginning, there is an end, and Lee Geun-ho’s last game and retirement ceremony, which ended his 20-year career in the K League, was both regrettable and precious in that sense. And Lee Geun-ho fought so well in that game beyond a simple retirement ceremony and gave us a precious victory, so the regret is big and deep. In Daegu MBC’s special feature on Lee Geun-ho’s retirement, “Lee Geun-ho’s Last Dance,” we look back at the records and moments of that day.

Lee Geun-ho in the starting lineup with the captain’s armband
At the post-match press conference after the 37th round match, Daegu FC head coach Choi Won-kwon announced that Lee Geun-ho would start the game. He said that if conditions were right, he would be the first player on the field to receive a standing ovation in the match before the retirement ceremony. It was said that the club also envisioned that Lee would start the game, play until the 22nd minute, and come off to a standing ovation from the fans.레모나토토

However, on the day of the game, the situation was such that it was difficult to play without Lee Geun-ho. With the injury of striker Baselus, Lee Geun-ho’s starting spot was inevitable, even if it wasn’t a retirement ceremony, and with a heavy responsibility for the team’s attack, Lee Geun-ho wore the captain’s armband and started his last game as a player.

63 minutes of brilliance–and the BEST11 of Round 38
From the first minute, Lee looked so light on his feet. It’s a shame that he’s retiring, because he’s still got it. From his trademark burst and speed to his game coordination, he led his team to victory.

One shot (on target) and 16 passes for a 70% success rate, two forced turnovers and one foul, three interceptions and seven balls won. These few numbers are all that remain of Lee’s final Incheon game, as he played 63 minutes before being substituted 15 minutes into the second half, but the victory was bigger than the numbers.

The win for Daegu FC was not only their first in the final round, but also their first win over Incheon United this season. A sellout crowd of 12,334 tasted victory in their final home game, their last home win in three years since 2020.

The performance earned Lee a 7.2 rating, making him a 38th round pick, and it’s hard to imagine another player in the league who could perform this well in his final game.

After the game, none of Daejeon’s 10,000+ fans left their seats – they were waiting for Lee’s retirement ceremony, which was being prepared on the pitch, and some of them were already getting teary-eyed. The stage was set for the retirement ceremony, as the players made their way around the nostalgia circle and said their final goodbyes for the season.

It was the first retirement ceremony since the opening of DGB Daegu Bank Park, and the largest ever held by a civic club. The ‘Son of the Sun”s voice trembles slightly as he says his final goodbyes to the fans, and he can’t hide his tears as he thanks his family. A rousing round of applause ensues, perhaps a mixture of gratitude and appreciation for all the hard work he’s put in, and sadness that we won’t get to see more of him.

And just like that, the Son of the Sun left the field. It was the end of a long day for the Daegu FC legend, a player who spent two hours after the match taking pictures and signing autographs with fans, but the good news is that we still have one more encounter with the name Daegu FC Lee Geun-ho, and what other memories will we have of that day?

The ‘2023 NutriDay Ilgudae Awards’ was held in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on August 8. Organized by the Ilgukhoe, a group of Korean professional baseball OBs, it is the most prestigious award ceremony held just before the Golden Globe Awards.

Kim Kwang-soo, chairman of the Ilgukhoe, KBO President Heo Koo-yeon, former managers Kim Sung-geun, Kim In-sung, Park No-joon, and Park Chul-soon, and other baseball presidents and elders who have led and shined in the history of Korean professional baseball gathered in one place. Managers, general managers, and officials from 10 clubs gathered together.굿모닝토토 주소

LG’s Im Chan-kyu won the best pitcher award, Hanwha’s Noh Si-hwan won the best hitter award, NC’s Ryu Jin-wook won the best effort award, and Moon Dong-joo won the best rookie award. The team from JTBC’s baseball talent program, “Choi Gang Baseball,” received the honorary Ilgukdae Award.

All of the active players bowed their heads in gratitude for the awards given to them by the greats of baseball. Although they expressed it in different ways, the first sentence of their acceptance speech said, “I am honored to receive this award from the greats of baseball.

Lim Chan-kyu, who won the Best Pitcher Award, said, “When I came here, I received a lot of seniors and juniors, but I think I’m not the best baseball player. I am grateful to my seniors for this award, and although I can’t follow in their footsteps, I will be a sincere and polite player, a player who greets seniors well, and an example to the juniors.”

Noh Si-hwan, who won the Best Hitter Award, said, “I am grateful to my seniors for the undeserved award, and I am grateful to be able to receive an honorable award where my seniors have been working hard.” NC Ryu Jin-wook, who received the Willing Effort Award, said, “I am honored to receive this award. I will endeavor to receive the award next year as well.”

Kim Ha-soo, who is now a proud product of the KBO, also received the Special Achievement Award. The San Diego Padres’ starting second baseman and specialty utility player won the National League Gold Glove in the utility category this year. He was the first Korean player to win the award and the first Asian infielder to do so.

“Kim became the first Asian infielder in history to win a Gold Glove (Utility), thanks to his outstanding performance on the field, in the field, and at the plate. By breaking the stereotype that Asian players cannot succeed as infielders in the major leagues, he has become an evangelist for the excellence of Korean baseball in the United States, the home of baseball,” said the organization, explaining why he was chosen as the recipient of the Special Achievement Award.

After the 2020 season, Kim realized his dream of making it to the big leagues by signing a four-year, $28 million guaranteed contract with San Diego. After struggling a bit in his rookie year, he had his best season this year, batting .266 (140-for-538) with 17 home runs, 60 RBI, 84 runs scored, 38 stolen bases, and a .749 OPS in 152 games. Defensively, he played top-notch defense at every position in the infield except first base, winning the National League Gold Glove for Utility.

However, Kim did not receive the Special Achievement Award in person, which was voted on by baseball’s presidents. He was absent from the ceremony. This was due to the recent controversy. He tweeted, “I’m sorry that I couldn’t attend the meaningful ceremony created by the seniors of the Ilgukhoe. I’m sorry and grateful,” he said in a message.

Kim recently filed a lawsuit against a junior player for blackmailing him. In 2021, before he entered the major leagues, Kim got into an argument with a junior player at a bar that turned into a fight, and Kim paid a settlement to make things right. The settlement reportedly amounted to 400 million won.

In his first year in the major leagues, Kim hired A as a training assistant and lived with him in the United States. However, he recently filed a lawsuit against her for extortion and blackmail after she continued to demand money. Kim appeared at the police station on the 6th and completed the investigation of the complainant. Based on this, a police investigation is underway.

On July 7, Mr. A appeared on a YouTube channel and claimed that Kim Ha-sung had repeatedly assaulted him. Contrary to Kim Ha-sung’s claim that they had reached a settlement, she stated that she was assaulted continuously even after the settlement and should receive additional settlement money.

On the afternoon of the 8th, Choi Sun, the law firm representing Kim Ha-sung, released an official statement saying, “Kim Ha-sung recently accused a former professional baseball player, who is his junior, of racketeering and attempted racketeering, and the police investigation was completed.”

“In 2021, the opposing player threatened Kim Ha-sung using his military status and demanded money in the form of a settlement, and Kim Ha-sung paid the money on the condition that the opposing player did not contact Kim Ha-sung directly or indirectly or take any unfavorable action against him,” the statement said.

“Nevertheless, the other player repeatedly violated the agreement by contacting him again. In order to prevent further damage, Kim filed a criminal complaint and separately filed a civil lawsuit and a provisional injunction to claim penalties for violating the agreement.”

“Kim Ha-seong has made detailed statements during the investigation of the complainant, and we believe that the facts will be revealed through the judgment of the investigation agency and the court,” he said. “However, we would like to reiterate that it is completely untrue that Kim Ha-seong unilaterally and repeatedly assaulted the other player,” he added.

“The other player will have to file a formal complaint against him if his allegations are true. In this case, Kim will sincerely cooperate with the investigation to prove his innocence, and at the same time, we will thoroughly hold the other party responsible for the false allegations.”

Lastly, he reiterated that he will take a strong stance against the opponent’s actions of defaming Kim Ha-seong by reporting false facts and fabricated evidence photos to the media, and that he will not tolerate any further acts of aggression against the athlete and will hold them civilly and criminally liable.”

Kiwoom Heroes outfielder Park Soo-jong had a breakout season this year. After graduating from Chungam High School and Kyungsung University, he was passed over in the 2021 rookie draft, but joined the Kiwoom organization to pursue his baseball dreams.

He spent the 2022 season in the Futures League without a call-up to the first team. In 63 games, he batted .278 with 44 hits, 19 RBIs, and 22 runs scored.굿모닝토토 주소

The 2023 season began with a dream first-team debut. On July 12 and 13, he played on his home turf against the KT Wiz in Gocheok, and then received another first-team call-up when the expanded roster was implemented in September. With Lee Jeong-hoo sidelined with an early injury and trade transfer Lee Joo-hyung unable to play normal defense due to a sore thigh, Park’s opportunity presented itself.

Park went on a so-called “crazy run. In 23 games, he batted .422 with 19 hits, three doubles, and seven RBIs. On September 29 against the Gocheok KIA Tigers, he went 4-for-4 and had six multi-hit games. It made me excited for next season.

What about the 2024 season? The Kiwoom outfield is in for a big change. First of all, Lee Jung-hoo, the genius hitter who has been leading the Kiwoom outfield, has announced that he is going to the major leagues. Lee is in the process of being posted. He has already expressed his dream of reaching the major leagues even before the start of the 2023 season, and major league clubs are showing interest, so unless something changes, he won’t be around next year.

Lee has played seven seasons with Kiwoom and has been their center fielder, batting .340 with 1181 hits, 65 home runs, 515 RBI, 581 runs scored, and an OPS of .898 in 884 KBO games. His hitting ability is something to behold, as even this injury-plagued season he still managed to hit triple digits and post a triple slugging percentage. His defense is also good. It won’t be easy to fill his shoes, but someone has to.

Assuming Lee Joo-hyung, who came over from the LG Twins and quickly established himself as a center fielder, and Ronnie Dawson, a foreign hitter who is seeking re-signing, take the two outfield spots, that leaves one. Lee Hyung-jong, veteran Lee Yong-kyu, and first-round picks Lim Byung-wook and Park Soo-jong are expected to compete. Park could have a chance if he continues the momentum he showed at the end of the season.

Park’s potential was once again recognized by the coaching staff during the post-season camp. In addition to the hitting ability he showed in the second half of the season, he also showed promise in defense.

Coach Moon Chan-jong, who will serve as Kiwoom’s first base and outfield defense coach for the 2024 season, said, “I have a feeling that Su-jong will catch even the hardest balls. His defense is just the best. It’s a defense you can trust and feel comfortable watching.” “Her shoulders are also very good. And because she comes from an infield background, she has a quick release time. That’s a big advantage.”

To seize the opportunity, Park did his best in the final workout, and he will continue to work hard in the off-season and next February.

MLB.com’s review of the Toronto Blue Jays’ Winter Meetings on Sunday surprisingly mentioned Hyun-Jin Ryu. It wasn’t a vague reference to other players. He clearly took a shot at Ryu and said there was a possibility of a reunion.

Ryu Hyun-jin and Lee Man-soo during the game between the LG Twins and KT Wiz in the fifth inning of the Korean Series of the ‘2023 KBO Baseball Postseason’ at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on November 13, 2023 레모나토토 주소.

Manager John Schneider told MLB.com that “Alec Manoa will be given every opportunity to win the fifth spot,” but MLB.com also noted that “Toronto needs competition for Manoa, and more than that, they need depth to protect them from injury in case he’s not healthy in 2024.”

In broad strokes, Toronto’s 2024 starting rotation is expected to be very similar to the 2023 team. Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Yusei Kikuchi are set in stone. They were more stable than expected last season, but the fifth starter is a concern.

Some say Manoa will rebound next year after a sharp decline in the 2023 season, while others say Avery is an unknown. In fact, 2022 was the only year he raced in the pairs. Some have argued that the team needs to bolster its front five.

Furthermore, Manoa has been consistently mentioned as a trade candidate, as he is the other half of the Jays’ batting order. Toronto is involved in a trade for Juan Soto (25, San Diego Padres). It’s possible they could offer Manoa in return. San Diego’s biggest need is starting pitching, while Toronto’s is offense.

Toronto could also call up prospects like Rickey Tiderman and Bowden Frances. However, it’s a tough call. That’s where the logic comes in: there’s no better insurance policy than Ryu (36, free agent). The team that knows how to use him best is Toronto.

MLB.com writes, “Toronto isn’t rushing to make a move in the offseason to build something first. Under the right circumstances, Toronto is open to reuniting with Ryu. They should keep that name in mind.” After the one-on-one meeting, Ryu’s future will be clear. It shouldn’t be much more than $10 million a year.

Samsung is getting busy in the offseason. It’s been bolstering its bullpen. The results are clear. However, the bats need attention. It’s better than the mound, but it’s not as strong. It’s an area that needs revitalization.

Samsung finished the 2023 season with a team batting average of .263, good for sixth place. They were eighth in home runs (88) and seventh in OPS (0.702). That’s a below-average offense. It’s one of the reasons why the team is only 8th in the standings.굿모닝토토 주소

The biggest disappointment was, of course, the bullpen. With a 5.16 ERA, it’s the worst in the league. Samsung was the only team with an ERA in the 5s.

Samsung knows it. That’s why it acquired Kim Jae-yoon in the offseason for a total of 5.8 billion won over four years. That’s a lot of money. Together with Oh Seung-hwan, they have a solid “bullpen one-two punch. In the second round, they bolstered it with Choi Sung-hoon and Yang Hoon.

The fire has been extinguished. We’re continuing to strengthen. The batting order is relatively quiet. If not through trades or other means, the existing resources will have to step up.

The first player to come to mind is Oh Jae-il. It’s safe to say that he had his worst season since becoming a starter. In 106 games, he batted just 0.203 with 11 home runs, 54 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.658.

At the beginning of the season, it was a “meh” season. He’s always been a slow starter. But the slump got longer. By May, he was batting in the teens. With their trusted No. 4 hitter struggling, Samsung was bound to lose steam.

The 2024 season should be different. Despite having good hitters like Koo Ja-rook and Kang Min-ho, Oh Jae-il’s power is essential. Only then will the Samsung batting lineup be able to carry the weight.

The late-season rebound was a welcome one. In September, he hit .289 with two home runs, 11 RBIs and an OPS of .874. He went 0-for-4 in October as a pinch-hitter due to a hamstring strain, but September certainly wasn’t bad.

He’s taken our first base woes away since joining Samsung. We need him. Furthermore, 2024 is important for Oh. It’s the last year of his free agency contract. In the long run, a ‘resurgence’ is a must.

Then there’s the other side. A foreign hitter. Jose Pirela will play for the 202

Shohei Ohtani, the biggest name in Major League Baseball (MLB) free agency this offseason, has met with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Speaking at the MLB Winter Meetings at a resort in Nashville, Tennessee, Dodgers general manager Dave Roberts revealed that he recently had a two- to three-hour meeting with Ohtani at Dodger Stadium. Roberts said, “I don’t want to lie. “I don’t want to lie, we met with Ohtani, but that’s something that will be revealed at some point,” Roberts said.레모나토토 도메인

The Dodgers are a perennial National League West contender in fall baseball, having won the World Series in 2020. As a perennial contender, the Dodgers have strong hopes of adding Ohtani to their roster. “Signing Ohtani is a top priority for us,” Roberts said. “We talked to him (about a contract) and things went well.” “He had a poker face on, but I’m sure he was smiling on the inside,” Roberts said, “but the final choice will be his.”

This is the first time a senior official from an MBL club has publicly discussed the process of negotiating with Ohtani. Currently, the race for Ohtani has been joined by his former club, the Los Angeles Angels, as well as the Dodgers, San Francisco, and Toronto. The Chicago Cubs, who were initially interested in Ohtani, recently abandoned talks.

It’s a friendly rivalry. Two pitchers who will shape the future of Korean baseball are engaged in a beautiful competition.

Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha Eagles) was named Rookie of the Year at the 2023 Joa Pharmaceutical Baseball Awards held at the Elena Hotel Imperial Hall in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on April 4.

Moon, who made his debut in the 2022 season, stepped up his game this season. He appeared in 23 games this season, posting an 8-8 record, 118⅔ innings pitched, 95 strikeouts, a 3.72 ERA, and a 1.31 WHIP (walks allowed per inning).굿모닝토토 도메인

Upon receiving the award, Moon said, “This is an opportunity that won’t come around again, so I’m grateful to receive it. I want to thank Yoon Young-cheol (KIA Tigers) and apologize to him. I am honored by every moment, but I remember playing for my country and winning the gold medal at the Asian Games the most.” “Next year, I will work hard to win the individual title instead of the Rookie of the Year,” he said.

Moon mentioned Yoon Young-chul’s name. Yoon, who was selected by KIA with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2023 KBO Rookie Draft, appeared in 25 games this season, posting an 8-7 record with a 4.04 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 122⅔ innings pitched, 74 strikeouts and 48 walks. He competed with Moon Dong-ju for the Rookie of the Year award as well as the KBO Rookie of the Year award.

Moon revealed his reason for apologizing to Yoon. He said, “We had a very good competition. I wanted to tell him that it was great to compete with him, but I never got to talk to him, so I felt like today was my chance, so I told him.”

“I was under a lot of pressure, but I told him from the beginning of the season that I wasn’t going to think about the Rookie of the Year, and I think I was able to run well because I didn’t change my mind,” he said. “Also, there were so many people who helped me whenever I was under a lot of pressure. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would have been able to win the Rookie of the Year. There was so much going on, but I think it was fun because there were players who competed with me for the Rookie of the Year.”

“I knew that (Moon) Dong-joo was going to get it, but I’m glad that we can compete with each other and get a little stronger,” Yoon said, creating a heartwarming scene.

Moon Dong-ju has done well for Hanwha this season, as well as for the Korean flag. He made two appearances against Chinese Taipei at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in October. He took the loss in the group stage after giving up two runs in four innings, but then pitched six shutout innings in the final. In November, he started against Australia in the first round of the 2023 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) in Tokyo, Japan, and pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing two runs on five hits (one home run) with five strikeouts and four walks. The two international appearances gave him confidence. But there’s no room for complacency.

“We won the Asian Games, but I don’t think we should think that we were dominant because there are a lot of players who are much better at baseball and each team is not the best. “We still lack a lot, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it,” said Moon. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do it, we have good memories from the Asian Games, so we want to be confident and show that we can do it too.”

Milwaukee Brewers prospect Jackson Churio, 19, said he was thrilled to receive an $82 million (KRW 10.65 billion) contract before he even made his major league debut.

The 19-year-old held a press conference with the Brewers on the sidelines of the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings at a resort in Nashville, Tennessee, to announce the eight-year, $82 million deal.

He said, “This is a blessing for me. It doesn’t happen often. It’s a tremendous opportunity for me, and I’m going to take advantage of it and enjoy it every day.”

The Venezuelan outfielder has played in 272 games over three seasons in the minors, batting .286 with a .347 on-base percentage, .490 slugging percentage, 47 home runs, 191 RBIs and 68 stolen bases.

In 2023, he played 122 games at Double-A and six at Triple-A, batting .283 with a .338 on-base percentage, .467 slugging percentage, 22 home runs, 91 RBI and 44 stolen bases. He was selected to play in two Futures Games in 2022 and 2023.레모나토토 주소

He is the sixth player to sign a long-term contract before making his major league debut, joining John Singleton (Houston), Scott Kingery (Philadelphia), Elroy Jimenez, Luis Robert (White Sox), and Evan White (Seattle).

Most of the seniors who have followed this path have not had successful careers. “I’m going to try to live up to the expectations and treat the game with respect,” he said.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” he said, “but I’m still going to work hard and try to be the best version of myself on the field. This money is not going to change me. If anything, it’s going to make me a better player,” he said emphatically.

“I’m going to work twice as hard as I’ve ever worked before, and I’m going to be a better player,” he said during the offseason, adding that he’ll work hard to make the opening day roster so he can be ready for the big leagues from the start of the 2024 season.

“The scouts that watched him liked him from day one, the coaches that were involved with him liked him every step of the way, and he met or exceeded expectations for every challenge that was put in front of him,” Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said of Churio.

“When you make an investment like this, you’re investing in a person’s talent, you’re investing in their habits, and you’re investing in their character. We believe he’s checked all of those boxes,” he said, explaining the rationale behind the large contract offer.

If Churio makes the opening day roster, he’ll face competition from other young outfielders like Sal Prellick, Garrett Mitchell, and Joey Wimmer.

Calling it a “good problem to have,” Arnold said, “We have a lot of talented outfielders, and Churio is one of them. “We have a lot of talented outfielders, and Churio is one of them, but as you know, we had a couple of injuries on the same day last season,” he said, emphasizing that adding depth is a good thing.

The LG Twins are likely to go over the salary cap. Even at the risk of sanctions, the team plans to acquire all three internal free agents to strengthen the group.

LG was the star of the ‘2023 Zoar Pharmaceutical Baseball Grand Prize’ award ceremony held at the Elena Hotel Imperial Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on Thursday. Captain Oh Ji-hwan received the prestigious Zoar Pharmaceutical Baseball Grand Prize, while manager Yeom Kyung-yup won the managerial award. In addition, the Front Award was received by Cha Myung-seok as the club’s representative, confirming the honor of winning the unified championship this year.

When Cha Myung-seok came on stage to receive the Front Award, he was asked about Stobrig’s plans to strengthen its power. “We’re going to sign all of our players,” Cha said, “Chan-kyu Lim, Deok-joo Ham, and Kim Min-sung.” He made it clear that he would hold onto all of his internal free agents.굿모닝토토 도메인

The absence of news of the three LG free agents’ signings amidst a flurry of external free agent signings led some to speculate that the contracts had been canceled.

However, as of late, LG’s chances of retaining Im, Chan-kyu, Ham Deok-ju, and Kim Min-sung have been increasing as the team has set up a contract table.

“I understand that LG is planning to proceed with all three internal free agents’ contracts even if they have to bear the salary cap penalty,” said an official familiar with the baseball world, “and if there are no major problems in the contract process, there is a possibility that they will announce the contracts at the same time or quickly.”

In the case of salary cap penalties, the first year a team is over the limit, it will be fined 50 percent of the excess, and the second year it will be fined 100 percent of the excess and lose its first-round pick.

If LG retains all three free agents, it will effectively be forced to go over the salary cap. In that case, the team would only have to pay half of the overage, and it would be the first year without additional penalties such as dropping nine spots in the draft.

Cha and some of the players in free agency have also recently made comments in public that seem to hint at a smooth signing process.

The team is more cohesive than ever after winning the championship, and everyone is on the same page that there should be no power leakage as the team looks to build a dynasty that will last through Season 24.

In fact, one of our three free agents was rumored to be a target for a local club, and there was some real interest. However, the player’s desire to stay was so strong that the club was reportedly unable to even get to the negotiating table.

All three free agents are very determined to stay with LG and the club has a clear plan to hold on to them, so there seems to be a green light in the group.

Shohei Ohtani’s 780 billion won ($780 million) deal is imminent. Even before the deal was announced, Ohtani was breaking and breaking the record for the highest salary in American professional sports.

Ohtani is heating up the 2023 StubHub League. New York Post columnist John Heyman wrote on April 4, “Ohtani has already received offers well in excess of $500 million from multiple teams. Some speculate that his contract could reach $600 million.”

Ohtani, who bats as an “idoryu,” is a two-time American League Most Valuable Player (MVP), winning in 2021 and 2023. He made his major league debut in the 2018 season through the Nippon Professional Baseball organization’s posting system and played six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels before becoming a free agent this season.

While $500 million is already the largest contract in the history of major league free agency, an astronomical contract of $600 million, or KRW 77.8 billion, seems possible.레모나토토 도메인

It is a contract that far exceeds the largest contract in Major League Baseball history. The previous record was Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million contract with the New York Yankees, and Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

In the U.S., Ohtani has been touted as the player who will usher in the first $500 million era, and his value has skyrocketed with competition.

And for good reason. As a hitter this season, Ohtani hit .304 with 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a 1.066 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), while also stealing 20 bases. On the mound, Ohtani was also exceptional, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA.

Injuries have caused him to miss time at one position or the other, and he’s had some down seasons. But over his six seasons, he has started 86 games as a pitcher, going 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA. As a hitter, he played in 716 games, batting .274 with 171 home runs, 437 RBIs, and a 0.922 OPS.

It’s hard to be good at just one of the two bats, but he’s accumulated extraordinary stats at both, and that’s enough to warrant a big contract. He underwent elbow surgery at the end of the season, making it difficult for him to be utilized as a pitcher next season, but many teams clung to this epic deal.

The conclusion to the Ohtani saga is expected sooner rather than later. According to Canadian media outlet Sportsnet, “Ohtani plans to meet with several teams in Los Angeles. Negotiations are in the final stages,” suggesting that a deal is imminent.

As of now, there are only four or five teams that are in the running to sign Ohtani. The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently the favorites to sign Ohtani, as they are familiar with the environment he has played in for so long. The Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs are also in close talks with Ohtani’s camp.

In addition, Ohtani’s original team, the Los Angeles Angels, and the San Francisco Giants, who are also in the West, are also pushing to sign him.

The transfer news is almost syndromic. At the same time, North American media outlets have been reporting on the huge economic impact of Ohtani’s move. If Ohtani leaves the small-market Angels and moves to a big club, the economic impact will be huge.

The Athletic published an article analyzing the impact, stating that “the Ohtani brand is as valuable to business as the game of baseball,” while Sportsnet predicted that “Ohtani’s decision will have a huge ripple effect across the MLB industry.”