Korean Superstar Reportedly Entering MLB Free Agency, Red Sox Would Be Strong Fit

Boston could use Lee's skillset in the outfield next season

Scott Neville | Aug 10, 2023

Korean Superstar Reportedly Entering MLB Free Agency, Red Sox Would Be Strong Fit /

In this story:

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have proven to be fringe contenders this season and would be a force to be reckoned with should they add a few notable pieces ahead of the 2024 season.

While the bulk of the upgrades should be centered around the pitching staff, the offense is in need of a boost as well, especially with outfielder Adam Duvall set to depart and Alex Verdugo's future with the Red Sox in jeopardy.

Fortunately, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom will enter the offseason with a reset luxury tax and absolutely no excuse not to spend. The top international trade target for Boston should and likely will be Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto but it would make sense to take a peek at a rising superstar shining in Korea.

"Korean baseball star Jung Hoo Lee is still expected to sign with a Major League Baseball club this winter, despite a fractured left ankle that could end his season with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League," MLB.com's Jon Morosi wrote Thursday.

The soon-to-be 25-year-old is hitting .319 with 31 extra-base hits including six home runs, 45 RBIs and a .863 OPS in 85 games this season.

Last season Lee hit .349 with 69 extra-base hits including 23 home runs, 113 RBIs and a .996 OPS in 142 games on his way to winning the KBO MVP in his age-23 season.

Lee is represented by Scott Boras -- and while that typically is bad news for front offices, Bloom had luck with the legendary agent pursuing an international star last offseason. The two sides quickly reached an agreement for outfielder Masataka Yoshida.

Like Yoshida, Lee is known for his incredible bat-to-ball skills and plate vision. The 6-foot, 190-pound slugger has a 383-to-304 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his 883 career games in the KBO alongside a .340 batting average. Lee has posted five seasons in a row with more walks than strikeouts and two seasons in a row with over twice as many walks as strikeouts -- 66:32 and 49:23.

Lee reportedly has average speed and strong defensive abilities including a plus arm and very good jumps/reads in the outfield.

The Red Sox have Jarren Duran, Yoshida, Verdugo and Refsynder under contract for 2024 but Verdugo reportedly was involved in trade discussions ahead of the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline and has been reprimanded numerous times in the last few seasons, making him a logical trade candidate. Verdugo also only has one season left of team control and Boston reportedly has yet to start extension negotiations, so his time might be numbered.

If that is the case, or Yoshida becomes the primary designated hitter next season -- Justin Turner has a player option for 2024 but could walk -- Lee would be a strong addition to the club.

More MLB: Red Sox Slugger Playing Through Notable Injury For Potential Playoff Run

Published Aug 10, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu