Free agent catcher Lee Ji-young (37) has landed with the SSG Landers.
“We have acquired catcher Lee Ji-young in a trade with the Kiwoom Heroes for 250 million won in cash and a 2025 third-round rookie pick,” the SSG team said in a press release on the afternoon of the 12th.
Lee Ji-young previously signed an F.A. contract with the Kiwoom Heroes for two years and a total of 400 million won ($350 million in annual salary and $50 million in options).
Due to the compensation rules (100% of the previous year’s salary plus one player outside of the 25 protected players or 200% of the previous year’s salary), it was difficult for Lee to move to another club.
Lee’s salary last year was 500 million won.
This is how the sign-and-trade between Kiwoom and ESG came about.
ESG will inherit the terms of Lee Ji-young’s contract from Kiwoom.
Lee joined the Samsung Lions as a developmental player in 2008 and helped the team win three Korean Series titles.
After moving to Kiwoom in 2020, she gained a lot of experience leading the squad as the starting catcher.
