Doosan declared ‘withdrawal of FA’ early… Should I worry about the trade card?
I wonder if the Doosan Bears will continue to worry about strengthening the starting depth.
Doosan announced its withdrawal from the FA market early this winter. In November of last year, as soon as Yang Eui-ji (36), the largest catcher, was recruited for 15.2 billion won in 4+2 years, he closed his wallet. There are more players who have made a lot of money in the free agent market in the past, such as Kim Jae-hwan (35, 4 years, 11.5 billion won), Heo Gyeong-min (33, 7 years, 8.5 billion won), and Su-bin (33, 6 years, 5.6 billion won), and so on.
That doesn’t mean they don’t feel the need to reinforce their power. Internally, there is a consensus that the starting depth should be thicker. During the season, there is always a hole in the starting rotation at least once, and at this time, the number of players to prepare for the 6th or 7th starter is insufficient. The fact that it is difficult to appoint Lee Young-ha (27), who was one of the starting pitchers in Korea, is currently on trial for school violence is a big variable.
Doosan started a new one-two punch by recruiting Raul Alcantara (31) and Dylan Pyle (28). Alcantara has failed in Japan for the last two years, but is a proven starting pitcher responsible for 20 wins at Doosan in 2020. The second starting file is expected to be a great help even if he quickly adapts to the KBO league and endures full-time without injury.
The domestic starting lineup is highly likely to consist of Kwak Bin (24), Choi Won-jun (29), and Choi Seung-yong (22). Kwak Bin has the best pitch among the current starting pitchers in Korea, enough to be selected for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team. Choi Won-joon has been consistently in the starting rotation, recording 10 wins for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021, and Choi Seung-yong is expected to be the next left-handed starter to succeed the retired Yoo Hee-gwan (37).
The problem is the variable that the domestic selection team has one by one. When Kwak Bin returns from the WBC tournament in March, he has no choice but to face the new season with accumulated fatigue. Choi Won-joon, who was used as an ace in the team in the 2021 season and played until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, showed fatigue accumulating quickly from the second half of last year. Choi Seung-yong is a player full of question marks who has never had a full-time starting season. All three players have the stamina and experience to endure full-time is a variable. 메이저사이트
Currently, Park Shin-ji (24) and Kim Dong-ju (21) are considered strong candidates for the 6th and 7th starters. Park Shin-ji prepared a camp as a 6th starter last year and joined the opening rotation as a 5th starter. He has the most experience as a 6th pick, including taking regular selection classes at Sangmu. Kim Dong-ju played 10 games in the first team last year, mainly as a long relief player. They must first prove their potential by receiving selection classes in Australia.
Doosan can build a more solid starting lineup if they recruit a pitcher with the ability to start 4 or 5 here. Trade is the most realistic way for now, but it takes a certain amount of bleeding to find a starting pitcher.
In the end, it depends on how much potential young pitchers show in Australia. If they show enough competitiveness, the club will not have to worry about it, but if it is judged that reinforcement is necessary, it is inevitable to go to the trade card.