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Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop may have decided to stay with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, but the interest in the athlete shown by the Major Leagues shows no signs of abating.
Texas-area daily the Star-Telegram published a ranking of baseball¡¯s current free agents split into pitchers and batters in which Lee ranked sixth in the later group. Lee Seung-yeop in this appraisal was even ranked higher than Barry Bonds (eighth), who is only 22 homeruns short of Hank Aaron¡¯s all-time record.
¡°There are conflicting reports on whether or not Lee will leave Japan, but if he does come to the U.S., teams will be interested,¡± the daily writes. ¡°In his career in Japan and Korea, Lee has hit more than 400 home runs and he also hits for average.¡±
It was his fine performance at the inaugural World Baseball Classic earlier this year that can be credited most with raising the Lee Seung-yeop stock.
In the hitting ranking, Washington¡¯s second baseman Alfonso Soriano was first, followed by Nomar Garciapara of the LA Dodgers. Texas Rangers¡¯ Carlos Lee and Gerry Matthews Junior were side by side in third and fourth, followed by Dodger¡¯s shortstop Julio Lugo. Following Lee on the list were New York Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers first baseman Sean Casey, and outfielder Juan Pierre of the Chicago Cubs.
Number seven on the list Cliff Floyd made US$6.5 million this year and eighth-ranked Casey took in $8.5 million so many are curious how much Lee stands to rake in when he makes his MLB move.
For the pitchers, the paper ranked Oakland¡¯s lefty ace Barry Zito first, followed by Daisuke Matsuzaka (Seibu Lions) who is also rumored to be mulling a move to the U.S. Park Chan-ho¡¯s name was on the list beyond 10.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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