“A shortage of third basemen is clearly an advantage, but...” A major new wild card emerges for Roh Si-hwan, drawing attention from U.S. media

[Financial News] An 11-year deal worth 30.7 billion won in total. It is a massive contract with few precedents in the history of Korean professional baseball—and an amount that would guarantee financial security for life. Yet one player has left that enormous safety net behind to take on the uncertainty of Major League Baseball (MLB): Hanwha Eagles’ star hitter Roh Si-hwan, 26.
U.S. media are also showing strong interest in Roh Si-hwan’s unusual decision to choose a challenge over security. In particular, they have suggested that MLB clubs could offer him deals worth far less than the terms Hanwha proposed, pointing to the harsh uncertainties lying ahead.
MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR), a U.S.-based outlet specializing in Major League Baseball transactions, gave prominent coverage on the 31st of last month to the news that Roh Si-hwan had applied to be posted, highlighting the unusual nature of his long-term deal with Hanwha. The outlet said, “Roh Si-hwan enters negotiations with the financial security of an 11-year, 30.7-billion-won deal already in hand,” but added, “MLB clubs are likely to offer deals that are shorter in duration and lower in total value than his existing contract.”

The point is that he could face the dilemma of having to prove his worth entirely from scratch in unfamiliar U.S. surroundings, despite already being guaranteed astronomical wealth in Korea.

Ultimately, success will depend on whether he can prove his ability. After leading the league in both home runs and RBIs in 2023, Roh hit 32 home runs in 2025 and 29 this year, establishing himself as the league’s top power hitter. His young age—26—is also an asset. MLB Trade Rumors noted, “The shortage of third basemen in the current MLB free-agent market is a very favorable environment for Roh Si-hwan.” However, it also said it remained uncertain “whether he, having previously split time at first base, has the defensive ability at third base to meet MLB standards, and whether he can adjust to the blazing fastballs and sharp breaking pitches of big-league pitchers, which well exceed 150 km/h,” leaving unresolved the persistent questions surrounding hitters from the KBO League.
Above all, the biggest external wild card lies beyond the ballpark: MLB’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which expires on December 1 local time. If the two sides fail to reach a new agreement and an owners’ lockout becomes a reality, all MLB administrative operations, including player contracts, will come to a complete halt.

Under the rules, players pursuing a move to the United States through the posting system have a strict 30-day negotiating period. If they do not reach a deal within that period, the door to MLB will remain firmly shut until November 1 of the following year. If Roh Si-hwan’s negotiating deadline coincides with a lockout, the worst-case scenario cannot be ruled out: he could be left in limbo without even getting a proper chance to negotiate, regardless of how interested clubs are.
A bold gamble: putting aside 30.7 billion won in the comfort of home to test himself on the world’s biggest stage.
With Korea’s top power hitter Roh Si-hwan facing three dilemmas, what kind of contract—and what price tag—will big-league clubs put in front of him?

[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter