[OSEN=Lee Sang-hak Reporter] The San Francisco Giants were mentioned as a dark horse in the pursuit of free agent star Kyle Tucker, but the possibility was assessed as low. Given the team’s financial situation, which requires allocating $137 million to the top six highest-paid players next year, including Lee Jung-hoo, they lack the capacity to accommodate the top free agent.
The U.S. ‘USA Today’ covered the Major League Baseball offseason on the 11th (Korean time) and forecasted the future of outfielder Tucker, who is drawing attention as the top free agent. Tucker, who played 769 games over eight MLB seasons with a .273 batting average (748 hits in 2,741 at-bats), 147 home runs, 490 RBIs, and an OPS of .865, is expected to secure a contract worth around $400 million in this offseason.
Bob Nightengale, the reporter who wrote the article, explained, ‘General managers predict the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers as potential teams for Tucker, a Tampa Bay native. While the San Francisco Giants are a dark horse, they must pay Rafael Devers $250 million, Willy Adames $182 million over seven years, and Matt Chapman $151 million over six years, all entering their second year, making it difficult to afford a contract exceeding $100 million.’
He emphasized, ‘The San Francisco Giants will pay $137 million next year to just the top six highest-paid players on the team (Devers, Chapman, Adames, Robbie Ray, Logan Webb, and Lee Jung-hoo).’
Lee Jung-hoo, who signed a six-year, $113 million free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants in December 2023, received a $5 million signing bonus in his first year, excluding his $7 million salary. He will earn $16 million this year, $22 million in 2026–2027, and $20.5 million in 2028–2029. A salary of $22 million surpasses Choo Shin-soo’s $21 million with the Texas Rangers in 2019–2020, making it the highest ever for a Korean MLB player. As a third-year MLB player next year, Lee must deliver results commensurate with his value.
The San Francisco Giants, who have invested heavily in key players, also face significant expenses for their manager next year. Nightengale noted, ‘The Giants must pay a record $10.5 million for managerial salaries. They will pay $4 million to the dismissed Bob Melvin, $3.5 million to new manager Tony Vitello, and $3 million in buyout costs to the University of Tennessee for terminating Vitello’s contract.’
After exercising Melvin’s 2026 contract option in July, the Giants abruptly dismissed him following a failed postseason. In the process of appointing Vitello, a renowned college baseball coach, they paid buyout costs equivalent to his salary, tripling the managerial expenses.
With multiple large, long-term contracts remaining, including Lee Jung-hoo’s, and significant costs tied to managerial changes, the Giants face challenges in making major investments this offseason. Farhan Zaidi, the president of baseball operations, and general manager Zach Minasian have consistently scouted players in Asian leagues. They could target American players seeking a return to MLB at reasonable prices. Local media have identified Forster Griffin (Yomiuri Giants) and Cody Ponson (Hanwha Eagles), who dominated in Japan and Korea, respectively, as potential targets for the Giants. /[email protected]
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