Sunday, April 27, 2014

Korea's Jeong Choi Wants To Play In MLB In 2015


Korea's top third base product Jeong Choi reportedly wants to take the big jump from Korea to the United States to play in MLB next season. Choi is the top third basemen in Korea and is a former Korean Series MVP. Choi is now 27 years old and considered to be a five tool player after having a breakout 2013 season in Korea.

Choi has hit over .300 and posted at least a .900 OPS in four consecutive seasons in Korea and has averaged a little more than 23 home runs. Obviously you would expect those numbers to drop a little if he comes to the states but .275 and 18-20 home runs will probably be leaps and bounds better than anything the Yankees can expect Alex Rodriguez to give them in 2015.

Choi is coming off a .316/.429/.551 with 28 home runs and 24 stolen bases for the SK Wyverns. Choi would make the third base market look a little better as right now it only contains Chase Headley, Pablo Sandoval, and Aramis Ramirez.

Teams said to be interested in Choi this early would be the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and the New York Yankees. Expect that to change, it's April 2014.

19 comments:

  1. JEONG CHOI...allow me to arbitrate.
    A few Coors Light, some Bruce Springsteen & Dion.... followed by a healthy portion of
    " Doenjang ([twendʑaŋ], is a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste......
    made up of beans, and your next door neighbors dog. "

    ReplyDelete
  2. Let's not create yet another road block for a promising young player. Jagielo is ARod's replacement.

    ReplyDelete
  3. While I tend to agree Jeff it's not like we would be blocking Jags with a guy that is well into his 30's and past his prime. Also it's not like he is Tanaka and would come with a seven year deal.

    If i had to guess I'd say he would get a three year deal tops which gives Jagielo some time to get his feet wet. Jags is still a little bit away, probably no more than this season and next but still.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Also there is no guarantee he could stick at 3B n the states. Jack may be right, he may be headed to short stop or even second base in the states. I know he is called a five tool player so the arm strength is obviously there but Cano was a 3B in the minors and he made the move...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good point. 5 tool means he has a good glove. we do need a second basemen. The only prospect we have there is Katoh. He's struggling right now and is at least 4 years away.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The one thing that complicates things, which is a good problem to have and can be easily fixed, is we will have Solarte too assuming we dont DFA him or anything. Anna too. Ryan too.

    I smell a buy out of A Rod

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to see a buyout of arod. I'm not sure they'll eat $60 million, and I doubt arod leaves that on the table. It could still work though. Johnson, Jeter, and Roberts will all be gone next year. Solarte at 3rd, Anna at ss, Jeong at 2b. Arod can be the highest paid dh/utility infielder in history. Plus, I still think the Yankees should release/trade Ryan.

    ReplyDelete
  8. They will basically have to if he cannot perform but doesn't injure himself or get himself suspended. It's play him and get nothing or pay him and let him walk away and get nothing... that roster spot becomes valuable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who is it you are saying to pay off...our 3rd baseman or Ryan?
      If healthy, our 3rd baseman is valuable, and Ryan is not. This is not even counting the money involved!
      If he ever learns to rock back and toe tap then come forward instead of bringing his leg up so high he can't get it down fast enough for the fastball anymore!
      And yes, Sorianos' bat is slower this year, one can see it when he swings at a fastball and misses! My opinion anyhow, right or wrong!

      Delete
    2. Get rid of Ryan. Anyway you can. Horrible "insurance" signing that is now unnecessary. Great glove, but absolutely no offense. At least with Anna, there's some potential for offense.

      Delete
    3. I was saying I thought the Yankees would get rid of A Rod. He could be valuable but it is highly unlikely that he misses basically two seasons and comes back at the age of 40 and is productive. That's reality unfortunately.

      Delete
    4. The good thing about Ryan is so cheap he could be bought out with no problem.

      Delete
    5. Daniel I will by into the idea of him losing his game after being off so long!
      But, my question is his amazing determination to be the best, along with an over sized EGO.
      He wants 110 more home runs and 3,000 hits. Just as Jeter wanted 4,000 hits, he wants 764 HR's. He can do it, but he will have to fine toon his left foot action...he is late with it on most fastballs on the inner half.
      Just my observation, if I were pitching to him...at the hands (or low), on the inside of the plate, nothing but fastballs. That is what they have been doing to him for about two years or more. Everyone has a blind spot!

      Delete
  9. How many kids have come through the farm and on up with people saying, "He is a Five Tool player"?
    I have heard it so many times, until I see it on the big stage...it ain't true! I have seen a few 5 tool players; Mantle, Mays, Ken Griffy Jr., Trout and (almost) Ellsbury!
    Now I know, I may have missed one or two, from the NL (most likely)!

    ReplyDelete
  10. He's going to have to do a lot of fine tuning. He said he wanted to be the first and only member of the 800 home run club.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not going to happen! But, I think he can still be a very productive hitter IF; like CC he learns he isn't 30 anymore!
      He has always had the talent to do it, he just let his EGO get in the way of common sense...that dumb&%$@*&!
      If healthy, he can still be better (DH) than anyone out there or even (maybe) on the team right now!
      I was very hard on replacements...back in the days of my old job...if I knew they were smoking weed or anything else. The only way I had for not taking a new guy, was if he were injured, sorry about that but, that's the way it was!

      Delete
  11. Well this was before two missed seasons, being caught for steroids, etc etc etc. No way he reaches 800 now, I'd be surprised if he got to 700.

    ReplyDelete

Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)