"Even Choi Hyoung-woo Can't Be Certain"—No Room for Complacency at Kia Tigers. What Awaits A-Class Restricted Cho Sang-woo?

[Financial News] The message from Kia Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho, whom we met at Incheon Airport upon his return, was cautious yet clear.
Regarding Cho Sang-woo, Lee said, "It's not entirely my place to comment, but fundamentally, I hope we can keep him." While emphasizing that negotiations with players are the front office's responsibility, Lee also noted, "Although his performance in the second half wasn't great, he's an experienced and proven resource who can handle high-pressure situations."
From a manager's perspective, you can never have too many pitchers. Having even one more makes managing the season much easier.
However, there is a stark gap between the 'hopes' of the field and the 'reality' faced by the club. Objectively, the current situation at the Kia Tigers is far from favorable for Cho Sang-woo.

A new benchmark has been set in the market. Lee Young-ha, who stayed with the Doosan Bears, signed a blockbuster deal totaling 5.2 billion won. This serves as a clear guideline for Cho Sang-woo.
Looking at the stats alone, Cho Sang-woo has a case to make. Lee Young-ha pitched 66.2 innings this season, recording 14 holds and an ERA of 4.05. In comparison, Cho Sang-woo threw 60 innings, posting 6 wins, 6 losses, 28 holds, and a 3.90 ERA. He had twice as many holds and a lower ERA. Considering his career stats and experience, there's no reason for Cho Sang-woo to be valued lower than Lee Young-ha. Naturally, Cho Sang-woo's camp is likely aiming for at least 5.2 billion won. The real issue is the market's response and timing.
While Lee Young-ha's contract should be a positive sign for Cho Sang-woo, the Kia Tigers simply don't have the resources to make a similar offer. In fact, there's little reason for them to do so.
This offseason, the Kia Tigers' top priority is clearly retaining their in-house stars. Above all, Choi Hyoung-woo and Yang Hyeon-jong, the team's icons, are at the top of the list.
But things are not going smoothly. Samsung's aggressive push for Choi Hyoung-woo has been stronger than expected, and the amount Kia can offer does not meet his expectations. There's a widespread sense of crisis that the team could lose him.

On top of that, the team's disappointing eighth-place finish this season and the parent company's financial situation further restrict the club's flexibility. With a limited salary cap, it's already a challenge to satisfy both Choi Hyoung-woo and Yang Hyeon-jong.
With the need to go all-in on retaining these two stars, it's virtually impossible for the team to offer a massive contract to a bullpen pitcher like Cho Sang-woo.
To make matters worse, if Choi Hyoung-woo leaves, Kia Tigers would be forced to hit the 'rebuild' button. For a rebuilding team, there's even less reason to sign a high-priced FA bullpen pitcher.
Even targeting the external market is not easy. The biggest obstacle for Cho Sang-woo is his 'A-class' free agent status.
Any team signing him must compensate Kia Tigers with one player not on the protected list of 20, plus a cash payment. Although he recorded 28 holds this season, his frequent blown saves during crucial summer games exposed his physical limitations. It's hard to find a team willing to risk losing a promising prospect and pay a large sum for a reliever with such concerns.

Internally, the need for Cho Sang-woo has diminished significantly since the start of the season. The team has already secured alternatives. First, they selected Lee Tae-yang in the first round of the secondary draft.
They also named Hong Min-gyu, who pitched 33 innings in the first team this season, as a compensation player, and acquired Han Jae-seung and Kim Si-hoon through trades to bolster their right-handed bullpen depth. Hwang Dong-ha, who has recovered from injury, has also joined the roster. Rookies like Kim Taehyung and Ho Min Lee are expected to contribute next year as well.
With Jeon Sang-hyun and Jung Hae-young still healthy, the argument that "the bullpen will collapse without Cho Sang-woo" holds no weight at this point.
Both the club and fans know that it makes much more sense to invest that money in retaining Yang Hyeon-jong and Choi Hyoung-woo.

Ultimately, the most critical variable for Cho Sang-woo is 'competition.'
With the Kia Tigers unable to make an aggressive move, only an offer from another club can help him prove his value. However, the market remains quiet. Kia's financial constraints, internal priorities, and the 'A-class' barrier are all formidable obstacles.
Naturally, the player wants to be treated well, but the team can't afford it, and the compensation rules make it hard for him to leave.
Until there is news about the contracts of Choi Hyoung-woo and Yang Hyeon-jong, this offseason is likely to be an especially cold and long winter for Cho Sang-woo.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter