"Let the Free Agent Bubble Burst" Lotte's 'No Signings' Strategy... Aims for Top Five with a Super Foreign Trio

[Financial News] This year's offseason has been especially heated. Major free agent deals involving players like Chan Ho Park and Kang Baek-ho have made headlines, while shocking roster moves by Choi Hyoung-woo and Hyun-soo Kim have kept baseball fans excited. Yet, amid all this buzz, one place remained unusually quiet: Sajik Baseball Stadium.
This winter for the Lotte Giants has been so subdued that it borders on silence. Entering the free agent market was out of the question—they truly did nothing. Among fans, there was a sense of resignation, with some lamenting, "Are we going empty-handed again this year?"

However, Lotte has now presented fans with a new vision. Without bringing in outside free agents, the club declared it will focus on internal development and foreign players as its two main pillars for a push in the 2026 season.
Recently, the Lotte Giants completed their foreign pitching lineup. Elvin Rodriguez, Jeremy Beasley, and Asian quota player Kyoyama Masaya all share a key trait: they possess powerful fastballs in the mid-to-high 150 km/h range and have extensive experience in Asian baseball, particularly in Japan.
Elvin Rodriguez (total $1 million) is a pitcher with experience in both Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). His fastball tops out at 157 km/h, and he boasts a variety of breaking balls and proven control in Japan (NPB ERA 2.77), which bodes well for a smooth transition to the KBO League.
Jeremy Beasley (total $1 million) also throws a blazing fastball, reaching up to 158 km/h, and gained starting experience with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. His slider, which has excellent lateral movement, and his ability to induce ground balls are expected to be major assets at Sajik Baseball Stadium.
Kyoyama Masaya, who joined as an Asian quota player for $150,000, is a cost-effective addition. With a fastball topping out at 155 km/h and a sharp splitter as his main weapon, he brings nine seasons of experience in Nippon Professional Baseball.

Lotte's expectations are clear. The club hopes this trio of foreign pitchers will anchor the mound in 2025, much like Ryan Weiss and Cody Ponce did for the Hanwha Eagles. While Lotte may lack home run power, they have plenty of hitters who can get on base. The key is the pitching staff.
Rather than spending huge sums in the overheated free agent market, Lotte is pursuing a 'low-cost, high-efficiency strategy.' The re-signing of Víctor Reyes, a two-time hits leader, for $1.4 million is the crowning touch to this approach.


Another key move for Lotte is a renewed focus on player development. To that end, they hired Satoru Kanemura, formerly of the Hanshin Tigers, as their pitching coordinator. He is recognized for his ability to develop pitchers, having contributed to Hanshin's Central League championship in 2025. The addition of veteran coaches like head coach Seok-Cheon Kang is also part of Lotte's plan to balance development and performance.
Sometimes, the overheated free agent market leads to the so-called 'winner's curse.' Excessive spending can undermine a team's financial flexibility and result in the loss of promising young players. In this context, Lotte's 'zero signings' approach could prove to be the most pragmatic choice if successful.
Of course, there are risks. If the foreign pitchers do not perform as expected or the younger players fail to develop, Lotte's 2026 season could be a tough one. Creating something out of nothing in baseball is never easy.
What is clear, however, is that Lotte is not simply closing its wallet and standing still. Instead, the club is moving forward with a clear sense of direction. With a trio of foreign pitchers throwing 150 km/h fastballs and development know-how from a Japanese championship team, it remains to be seen how Lotte's bold strategy will impact the KBO League, now reshaped by the free agent frenzy.


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter