This series takes a closer look at players and the issues surrounding them, drawing on interviews, statistics and career arcs. <Editor’s note>
KBO League career hits leader Son Ah Seop got a harsh reminder of how cold free agency can be, settling for a one-year deal with the Hanwha Eagles, his original club. Attention now turns to whether he can rebound the way infielder Ha Ju Seok did after making a similar choice last offseason.
Hanwha announced on Wednesday that it signed Son to a one-year free-agent contract worth 100 million won in salary. Son is set to join the Futures spring camp in Kochi, Japan, on Thursday.
The outcome surprised some observers because Son has long been regarded as one of the league’s top contact hitters and holds the KBO’s all-time hits record.
Questions also lingered because Son was a C-tier free agent, meaning a team signing him away would not have to send a compensation player — unlike A-tier and B-tier free agents. A club would have needed to pay only 150% of his previous salary as compensation. With Son earning 500 million won last year, that would have been 750 million won.
The lack of interest is widely attributed to concerns about aging curves for Son, who was born in 1988. Last season, he hit .288 with 107 hits, one home run and a .723 OPS. The batting average was solid, but there were questions about overall offensive production (wRC+), power and defensive value. Designated hitter spots are typically filled by home run hitters, and Son has been viewed as a contact-oriented DH whose outfield defense is a weakness. Some evaluations also said his contact skills have slipped from his peak.
His wins above replacement also drew scrutiny. According to the statistics site STATIZ, Son posted 1.21 WAR with the NC Dinos last season and just -0.05 with Hanwha — a disappointing figure given his reputation.
That context meant Hanwha did not have to rush. The Eagles also signed Kang Baek Ho to a blockbuster free-agent deal worth up to 10 billion won over four years, giving the club leverage in talks with Son. Son ultimately accepted Hanwha’s terms and pledged to restart his career path, a move that recalled Ha’s situation a year earlier.
In the previous free-agent market, Ha struggled to negotiate after Hanwha first signed infielder Shim Woo Joon to a deal worth up to 5 billion won over four years. Ha eventually stayed on a one-year, 110 million won contract (90 million won guaranteed plus 20 million won in incentives).
Ha then delivered last season, starring at the plate and in the field as Hanwha finished runner-up. He also played second base and showed he could coexist with Shim. On the strength of that performance, Ha signed a salary deal for 200 million won this season, a 122.2% increase.
Son and Ha play different positions — Ha can handle both shortstop and second base — but Son could still reshape his value if he improves his outfield defense and restores more noticeable offensive production.
Given the changes Son faced after being traded from NC to Hanwha last season, the article said there is room for improvement this year. If he carries his offseason training into a productive season built on his contact hitting, his future evaluation could change significantly.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.