Kia Tigers Secure Lee Jun-young as First Move in Hot Stove League... Now the Focus Shifts to the ‘Chan Ho Park Compensation Player’

[Financial News] The Kia Tigers have completed the first piece of the Hot Stove League puzzle, officially kicking off their preparations for the winter season.
On the 23rd, Kia Tigers signed a three-year FA contract worth 1.2 billion KRW with left-handed bullpen pitcher Lee Jun-young, marking the first step in stabilizing their bullpen for next season. Since debuting in 2016, Lee has appeared in 400 games over eight seasons, proving himself as a reliable bullpen option. His greatest asset is his consistency, having pitched in over 50 games for five consecutive seasons.
With a shortage of left-handed pitchers in the Kia Tigers bullpen, securing an experienced lefty was a sound move for the team’s roster. With Lee Jun-young’s signing, the Kia Tigers have completed the first phase of their Hot Stove League strategy.
However, the real turning point begins now. With key player Chan Ho Park leaving the team after signing a four-year, 8 billion KRW contract with the Doosan Bears, Kia Tigers must soon select a compensation player based on the 20-man protected list to be submitted by Doosan. Under the A-grade FA compensation rules for Chan Ho Park, Kia Tigers can choose either one player outside the protected list plus 200% of last year’s salary (900 million KRW), or 300% of last year’s salary (1.35 billion KRW).

Kia Tigers are likely to opt for the compensation player. With the urgent need to rebuild their roster for next season, acquiring an immediately usable asset holds greater value. Among the players not included in Doosan’s 20-man protected list, there are expected to be several young pitchers with high potential and position players who can contribute right away.
Doosan’s strategy this winter is focused on strengthening their roster, so the pool of players outside the protected list is relatively deep. Having lost a key infielder, Kia Tigers need to select a compensation player who can both secure future talent and address immediate needs.
Rather than seeking a direct replacement for Chan Ho Park, Kia Tigers are expected to prioritize filling their own weak spots. Options may include not only pitchers but also young position players.
Once the compensation player is selected, Kia Tigers will move on to the second phase of the Hot Stove League: internal FA negotiations. They need to reach agreements with players such as Yang Hyeon-jong, Choi Hyoung-woo, and Cho Sang-woo. In particular, negotiations with Yang Hyeon-jong and Choi Hyoung-woo may be prolonged due to their symbolic value and contributions to the team.
With the first step—the signing of Lee Jun-young—complete, the second step, choosing a compensation player, will be a critical turning point in shaping the Kia Tigers’ roster. Only after this process is finalized will the total budget for contracts with key FAs like Yang Hyeon-jong and Choi Hyoung-woo become clear. The strategy Kia Tigers choose during this Hot Stove League could significantly alter the team’s makeup for next season.

[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter