Seung-Yeop Lee

[montyque]

Hmmm, notice the price tag at the end of the article! Comparable to Matsui, they say? Hey, can this guy play right field? We could spend more money on pitching...


http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/ne...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Korean slugger now a free agent
By_Doug Miller_/_MLB.com

On Saturday, Korean slugger Seung-Yeop Lee took his first step toward Major League Baseball, and according to a Korean source, he might soon be walking in Anaheim's direction.

Lee, 27, officially became a free agent Saturday and has drawn the interest of scouts for 10 big-league clubs.

The source said the Angels might be the front-runner and that it wouldn't be a surprise if Lee signed a contract with Anaheim within the next month.

Angels GM Bill Stoneman was unavailable for comment on Saturday night.

Lee has been represented by John Kim of SFX in Korea. On Saturday, Southern California-based Arn Tellem confirmed that Lee will be a Tellem client in the United States.

"I can't talk about teams," Tellem said. "But we are representing him. Call back Monday."

Lee, a first baseman known in Korea as the "Lion King," hit 56 home runs in 2003 to break Japanese legend Sadaharu Oh's Asian single-season home run mark of 55 and smash the Korean record of 54, which he set in 1999 (135-game season). He has hit over 300 home runs in nine seasons in Korea.

The Angels would likely have no problem accommodating him on the field if they so desired.

Anaheim released its full-time designated hitter, Brad Fullmer, last month, in a move designed to give regular right-fielder Tim Salmon more at-bats at DH.

The Angels also have not yet indicated plans for their regular first baseman, Scott Spiezio, who is a free agent.

Lee is not a complete stranger to the big leagues: He worked out with the Chicago Cubs in Spring Training in 2002 and with the Florida Marlins in their 2003 spring camp.

On Saturday, another source familiar with the situation said, "He wants to play in the American League, where he can have the option of being a designated hitter, and everyone in Korea has been reporting Anaheim as a strong possibility."

One Korean newspaper, Dong-A Ilbo reported that Lee also seeks a city with a strong Korean population, which the Los Angeles area has.

Lee comes to the United States with a lofty reputation.

According to the Dong-A Ilbo, Lee's manager on the Samsung Lions, Ung-Ryong Kim, said, "He is able to do as much as Japanese hitter Hideki Matusi did."

Matsui, who was known as "Godzilla" after 10 star-studded years in Japan, came over to the New York Yankees in 2003 and will likely be the winner of the American League Rookie of the Year award after posting a .287 batting average with 16 home runs and 106 RBIs.

The newspaper said Lee is looking to command between $1.5 and $2 million per year.

[Yanks21]

He's a first baseman...

[matt27]

Originally posted by montyque
The newspaper said Lee is looking to command between $1.5 and $2 million per year.

that's pretty cheap, if he really is comparable to matsui. i doubt he can play rightfield though. since the ability to play as a dh is a priority for him, his defense is probably pretty weak. no room on the yankees.

[ring403]

He would only be of possible interest to the Yanks if they trade Nick Johnson, which hopefully won't happen.

[Looie #19]

This guy will never be a major leaguer.

[djhitman01]

Originally posted by Looie #19
This guy will never be a major leaguer.

I'm sure a lot of critics said the same thing about Ichiro and the man they call HIDEKI.

[tinodabambino]

"This guy will never be a major leaguer."

Well that's an ignorant comment. Everyone said Ichiro wouldn't be able to convert to the majors, and he was the MVP. We've seen several examples of Japanese players excelling in the majors, just look at our left fielder. I think he'll be a good fit for some major league team, low cost, low risk, big upside.

[Looie #19]

No one ever said that about Ichiro. And this guy never played ball in Japan, he played in Korea. Korea is where most players not good enough for the Nippon League play. This guy will never be a major leaguer, there's nothing ignorant about that statement.

You're introducing a Red Herring into this discussion by bringing up Japanese All Stars.

I'll be glad to eat my words the day this guy becomes a productive major leaguer.

[NJOBP36]

Originally posted by tinodabambino
"This guy will never be a major leaguer."

Well that's an ignorant comment. Everyone said Ichiro wouldn't be able to convert to the majors, and he was the MVP. We've seen several examples of Japanese players excelling in the majors, just look at our left fielder. I think he'll be a good fit for some major league team, low cost, low risk, big upside.

I still can't believe Ichiro won the MVP.

[ring403]

Originally posted by Looie #19
Korea is where most players not good enough for the Nippon League play.

That may have been the case in the past, but Korean baseball has taken some very large steps forward, and is now considered by many to be on equal footing with Japan.

For anyone interested, here is a link to a Korean Baseball Primer:

http://www.baseballguru.com/andrewwo...allprimer.html

[djhitman01]

Originally posted by NJOBP36


I still can't believe Ichiro won the MVP.

Yeah seriously, he was definitely roy but Giambi was CLEARLY the MVP that year nearly slugging in the mid 600's and an ob% over .470

[Jersey Yankee]

Originally posted by Looie #19
Korea is where most players not good enough for the Nippon League play.

Do most Korean ballplayers play in the Korean League or the Nippon League? Since Lee's name sounds Korean, I'd think playing in his own country's league wouldn't be unusual. I'm not sure how many Koreans are even in the Nippon League.

[Looie #19]

I don't know why I randomly thought of this thread, but....

Seung-Yeop Lee is now playing in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines (is that Valentine's team?) He's played 92 games, 317 AB, .240 BA, .327 OBP, .451 SLG, 39 BB, 84 K, 13 HR, 48 RBI.

For what it's worth, Fernando Seguignol is batting .305/.411/.657 with 39 home runs and 97 RBI for the Nippon Ham Fighters.