KIA's wide-ranging move like a challenger, not a champion, who can "last with maximum ability."

KIA's wide-ranging move like a challenger, not a champion, who can "last with maximum ability."

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The movement of the "Tiger Corps" throughout the winter is unusual. With a wider-than-expected move, he expressed his strong will to win the second consecutive round of integration.스포츠토토

The KIA Tigers pressed the big trade button on the 19th. It recruited Cho Sang-woo, a "former King of Guwon," who has 88 saves with 54 holds in his career. Cho Sang-woo was for sale, which was constantly discussed about the possibility of a trade, and many baseball officials were surprised by the fact that the club holding him was KIA, the "defending champion." Although there was considerable bleeding of two rookie nominations (the first and fourth rounds of 2026) and 1 billion won in cash, it immediately filled the vacancy of Jang Hyun-sik, who wore an LG Twins uniform as a free agent. Two days after Cho Sang-woo's recruitment, he signed a contract with Lim Ki-young as an internal FA Side Arm.

Kia's activism was also evident in the foreign player market. For starters, it renewed its contract with ace James Nail for up to 1.8 million U.S. dollars (2.6 billion won, down payment of 400,000 dollars, annual salary of 1.2 million dollars, option of 200,000 dollars). Nail, who has garnered 12 wins this season, has garnered the ERA title (2.53), helping the team win overall. With outstanding pitching capability, the Major League Baseball team has increased its visibility, but Kia has put him on the bench under unexpected conditions.

Nail's contract for this season is up to 950,000 U.S. dollars (1.4 billion won or 3.51 million dollars). She was only paid 350,000 dollars (or 500 million won) per year. Several foreign scouts said in unison, "I was really surprised to see the extent of Nail's salary increase." Kia has also acquired Adam Oler, another foreign pitcher, for up to 1 million dollars (or 1.5 billion won). The foreign hitter plans to substitute Patrick Wisdom from Socrates Brito. Both Oler and Wisdom are active big leaguers who played in the MLB this year. Rather than maintaining their overall winning capacity, they have boldly tried to upgrade their players.

"It was important how long we can maintain our maximum capacity. Choi's age is getting older, and so are Yang Hyeon-jong and Na Sung-bum," Kia Tigers' general manager Shim Jae-hak said, expressing concern over the situation. Although he is maintaining top-notch skills, he has to worry about "aging curve" (a phenomenon in which athletic ability declines at a certain age, leading to poor performance). Furthermore, shortstop Park Chan-ho and outfielder Choi Won-joon will exercise their first FA rights after the 2025 season. Yang Hyun-jong, whose four-year contract expires, also needs to be evaluated again by the market. Given the nature of the FA market, the composition of the team's players could change significantly. Considering the fact that the salary cap (competitive uniformity) is close to his chin, he needs to make choices and focus.

"Considering that the team will be leaked out due to failure to catch an FA, I thought we would have to compete to some extent next year (before the team's capability weakens)," Shim Jae-hak said. "We decided that next year will be the last year when we can sustain ourselves with our maximum capability." Breaking up with Socrates, a "long-lived mercenary" who has been with him for three years, is also an inevitable choice to achieve the second consecutive win. "I hope things go as I thought," Shim said.