“150 billion won spent, but his defense is a liability?” U.S. outlet’s blunt assessment fuels trade rumors about Jung-hoo Lee

[Financial News] Local assessments of San Francisco Giants star outfielder Jung-hoo Lee have been harsh. A roller-coaster 2026 season, marked by ups and downs at the plate and defensive uncertainty, has prompted talk of a trade for the first time since he came to the United States.
MLB.com reviewed Jung-hoo Lee’s 2026 season and analyzed his standing with the club on the 25th (Korea time). Lee hit .276 with 10 home runs, 57 RBIs and 12 stolen bases this season. He excelled with a .302 average before the All-Star Game, but plunged to .236 over his final 55 games after the break, finishing with an adjusted OPS (OPS+) of 105, around the league average. His defense also came under scrutiny. Even after yielding center field to Harrison Bader and moving to right field, he posted a poor -4 in outs above average (OAA), drawing criticism for failing to contribute defensively to the team.


The outlet pointed to San Francisco’s deep pool of outfield prospects and said the club could use Lee as trade bait to reduce its payroll. However, it saw little chance of a deal actually happening. His hefty 2027 salary of $23 million (about 30.5 billion won) and an opt-out clause that takes effect after the season would be major obstacles to another team acquiring him. Above all, the analysis said, San Francisco would not easily give him up given his immense popularity—he leads the team in jersey sales—and his commercial value in the Korean market.
The manager’s confidence in him remains strong. San Francisco manager Tony Vitello focused on Lee’s development, saying, “He has maintained his weight and strength well and has made gradual progress in every area, including outfield defense.” Lee also said, “It was a roller-coaster season. The key to bouncing back next year is ultimately consistency,” and vowed to contribute to the team’s wins.


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