MLB Rumors: Jung Hoo Lee, Giants Agree to 6-Year, $113M Contract; Includes Opt-Out

The San Francisco Giants reportedly made their first major move of the offseason on Tuesday.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee agreed to a six-year, $113 million contract with the National League West team. Heyman noted the deal includes an opt out after four seasons.

Lee was posted by the Kiwoom Heroes earlier this month and has starred in the Korea Baseball Organization in recent years.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted the Giants weren't the only team interested:

San Francisco is playing catch up to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers considering they have won the NL West in 10 of the last 11 seasons and just added arguably the best player in the game in Shohei Ohtani.

Lee may not be as talented as Ohtani, but he can help the Giants close the gap if he plays like he did in the KBO.

He was the Rookie of the Year in 2017 and then won the MVP in 2022 with a .349/.421/.575 slash line, 23 home runs and 113 RBI. Hitting for average had never been a concern, but it marked the first time he launched more than 15 home runs in a season.

Adding that type of power to his approach made Lee all the more dangerous at the plate entering the 2023 campaign. Throw in his .429 batting average for South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, and he figured to be on the verge of another dominant season.

However, his 2023 campaign was cut short after he suffered a broken left ankle in July. He was still productive, though, and was slashing .318/.406/.455 with six home runs and 45 RBI at the time of the setback.

Lee is just 25 years old and was one of the best contact hitters available this offseason. He hit better than .300 in all seven of his seasons in the KBO and should help anchor the Giants' lineup in 2024 even as he adjusts to life in a new league on a different continent.

San Francisco likely needs to add more pieces to fully close the gap with the dominant Dodgers, but this is an ideal start as it looks to improve its roster.