Updated Post, 12/4/23
KBO star Jung-Hoo Lee will officially be posted as of 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. Teams will have 30 days to negotiate with Lee, who was the KBO MVP in 2022.
Original Post, 12/3/23
The Mets are exploring various avenues to improve their offense for 2024 and beyond.
Center fielder Jung Hoo Lee, expected to be posted by the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes and has drawn “strong interest” from the Mets USA Today has reported on Sunday.
MLB Trade Rumors projects a five-year, $50 million contract for Lee, who reportedly is drawing interest from approximately 20 teams, including the Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Padres.
A seven-year veteran, Lee, still only 25 years old, is a five-time winner of the KBO’s Gold Glove Award, and was the league MVP in 2022, with a slash line of .349/.421/.575 (.996) and 23 home runs, 113 RBIs, 36 doubles, to go along with 10 triples across 142 games.
In 2023, he slashed .318/.406/.455 (.860 OPS) with six home runs, 45 RBIs, 23 doubles, and two triples across 86 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, which required surgery in July.
Lee expected to be ready for the start of spring training.
The signing period for KBO players is 30 days. In comparison, the Japanese NPB, where Yoshinobu Yamamoto is from, has a 45-day signing period.
Lee would also provides the Mets with defensive options. He can play center field immediately and Brandon Nimmo can switch to left field. Or Nimmo can, for now, remain in center field, and Lee can play left field. Right fielder Starling Marte is a free agent after the 2025 season and the Mets main left field option currently is DJ Stewart.
