When Kang Ri-ho (33, former name Kang Yoon-gu) requested the release of the hold right under the condition of a one-year FA (free agent) contract, the Lotte Giants adhered to the “unacceptable” position.
Kang Ri-ho, who even changed his name at the end of last year and sought a breakthrough, is currently uncontracted as a free agent along with Jeong Chan-heon, Lee Myung-ki, and Kwon Hee-dong. While all 10 clubs left spring camp in search of a warm training ground, these four players are still facing a cold winter.
As a condition of his one-year contract, Kang Ri-ho’s side is demanding that he release the hold right after one year. According to KBO Rules, Chapter 17, Article 164, ‘Reacquisition of FA Qualification’, after a player has exercised his FA rights, he can reacquire FA qualification if he has been active in the regular season for 4 years from the date of registration as a member of the club. . Even if you signed a free agent contract for less than 4 years, according to the rules, your team has the right to hold for 4 years. Unless you are released from your club, you cannot play for another club without the permission of your original team.
Kang Ri-ho’s side cited option contracts signed by Lotte with An Chi-hong (2+2 years 5.6 billion won) and Han Hyun-hee (3+1 years down payment 300 million won, total annual salary 1.5 billion won, options 2.2 billion won) as examples, saying, “We also received a request to release the retention right. It is said to be in the position of ‘Can you let me in?
Lotte’s position is ‘unacceptable’. An official from the club asked back, “When I was recruited by trade from the NC Dinos in 2021, I gave away the right to pick in the 2nd 4th round of the 2022 rookie draft. How can I release it?” In addition, asking for the release of the reservation after a year is in fact an expression of leaving the team (Lotte).
At first, we also reviewed a plan to accommodate 스포츠토토 the player’s request in terms of motivation, but recently, we have not considered this at all.
Lotte held off Kang Ri-ho’s FA application from the beginning. However, Kang Ri-ho’s will to challenge was great. Kang Ri-ho, who made his debut in 2009, recorded 31 wins, 29 losses, 2 saves and 48 holds, and an average ERA of 5.07 in 402 games in the first team. Kang Ri-ho is a C grade FA (compensation of 150% of the previous year’s annual salary), so the burden of recruitment is less. However, he is not receiving much attention from other clubs.
Kang Ri-ho, who failed to find a new nest, faced Lotte again. Lotte’s conditions are unchanged from the beginning. He offered a freeze to him, who received an annual salary of 73 million won the previous year. Kang Ri-ho’s side is still requesting the ‘revocation of the right to hold’, and Lotte has been waiting for the final answer for several days after conveying its intention to ‘freeze the salary, cannot release the right to hold’. After that, contact between the two sides was cut off.
Recently, there are rumors that Kang Ri-ho is promoting overseas expansion. On the 31st, Kang Ri-ho left a meaningful message on his personal SNS along with a picture of his cat, saying, “Puriya, we have to move. Very far away.”
Lotte also needs a left-handed bullpen for team reasons. Of the 21 pitchers included in this spring camp, only three are lefties. Left-handed pitcher Kim Yoo-young, who posted 13 holds last year, left for the LG Twins as free agent Yoo Kang-nam’s compensation player. Kim Jin-wook is expected to compete for selection. Cha Woo-chan, who was released from LG, and rookie Lee Tae-yeon (6th round, expected to graduate from Chungam High School) are followed by a question mark.
An official from the club said, “It is not possible to give preferential treatment only to Kang Ri-ho and sign a contract to release the right to hold after a year. We also looked at the long term and brought him in as a trade.” .