"Jeong Hoo Lee, what's really going on with the Yankees... Big clubs are gathering, is it at the forefront of the empire of evil?

[Sports News = Kim Tae-woo Reporter] The New York Yankees, a major league powerhouse with immense financial resources that has even earned the nickname 'Empire of Evil' for sweeping superstars, is having a lackluster season at the beginning of this year. They are currently recording the lowest ranking in the American League East, where powerful teams are gathering."

The New York Yankees currently have a record of 73 wins and 72 losses (.503 winning percentage), but they are trailing the Baltimore Orioles, who are leading the division, by a significant margin of 18.5 games. Mathematically, their chances of winning the division are now 0%. They also face a 7-game deficit in the wild card race. Unless a miracle happens in the remaining games, it seems like they will fail to make it to the postseason.

Many high-priced players, including Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón, have struggled due to injuries and poor performance. Aaron Judge, who signed a $360 million contract over 9 years after the last season, had an unexpectedly long absence due to an injury. It is expected that the Yankees will make significant acquisitions during the upcoming offseason to restore their pride.

The outfield is a particular area of concern. Promising outfielder Aaron Hicks, once considered the top outfield prospect on the team, was released after a slump, and other promising young players who were expected to follow him have also struggled. In addition, Harrison Bader, who played as the starting center fielder when their postseason hopes were still alive, has been placed on waivers. It appears that the Yankees intend to rebuild their outfield around Aaron Judge.

However, the problem is that there are not many top-quality outfielders available in the market during this offseason. Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs), who could potentially be a major acquisition, comes with a high level of risk. Despite his outstanding performance this year, he had two seasons of poor records in the previous years. This means it's uncertain if his performance this year is a real resurgence or just temporary. Nonetheless, Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, is determined to secure a contract of over $200 million. Many teams, including the Yankees, are hesitating.

There have also been discussions about the possibility of trading for Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels), but Trout has also faced frequent injuries in recent years. This year, he has played in 82 games, with an adjusted OPS of 130. While a 130 adjusted OPS is impressive, it is significantly lower than his career average (173). Furthermore, he has a substantial salary remaining until 2030, which is a burden given the Yankees' already high payroll.

As a result, the local media is recommending Jung-Hoo Lee (25, Kiwoom) as the next potential player to consider. Currently recovering from an unfortunate ankle injury, Jung-Hoo Lee plans to challenge Major League Baseball through the posting system after this season. Despite his injury this year, evaluations of Jung-Hoo Lee for the Major Leagues are largely complete. His skills and character have already been well-documented. The question now is how much teams are willing to bet on him.

The market currently lacks left-handed outfielders with high batting averages, which could work in Lee's favor. Although he has no prior Major League experience, he has been observed by Major League teams for a longer period than players like Ah-Seop Son and Ha-Seong Kim, who have found success. Jung-Hoo Lee is considered to have sufficient competitiveness, especially in hitting. Even Shin-Soo Choo (41, SSG), who played 16 years in the Major Leagues, stated, "At least in hitting, Jung-Hoo Lee can perform in the Major Leagues."

Already, the New York Post, the largest local newspaper, has mentioned Jung-Hoo Lee as one of the Yankees' offseason targets. Additionally, The Athletic, a North American sports-specialized media outlet and an affiliate of The New York Times, has recommended on September 13 (Korean time) that Jung-Hoo Lee could be an option. Whether it will materialize or not, it is clear that there is ongoing interest from New York media. 안전토토사이트

The Athletic stated, "Korean star Jung-Hoo Lee is expected to enter the posting system this offseason," and "At 25 years old, Jung-Hoo Lee was the KBO League MVP last year and recorded an OPS of 0.863 in 85 games before his left ankle fracture. If the Yankees want to add a contact-oriented batter, he could be an attractive option."

It is expected that Jung-Hoo Lee's overall contract amount would be lower than Bellinger's, and there wouldn't be a need to give up key players as in the case of a Trout trade. While the total amount is expected to be substantial, it carries less risk than the other options. Additionally, Jung-Hoo Lee is only 26 next year, giving him the advantage of potentially having his prime years ahead of him.

The Yankees are known to have closely monitored Jung-Hoo Lee for a long period, and they have a strong desire for a high-caliber outfielder. They have cleared payroll by releasing several players, and their current team payroll is approximately $278.8 million. The guaranteed payroll for next year is around $189 million. While they still have a significant amount of guaranteed salaries in the upper echelons of the league, they may have the flexibility to acquire at least one A-grade outfielder. Whether that flexibility will be directed towards Jung-Hoo Lee is something to watch for.