KIA finally solves its catcher problem with a blowout trade.카지노
On the 5th, KIA announced a one-for-one trade with Samsung, sending infielder Ryu Ji-hyuk (29) and acquiring catcher Kim Tae-gun (34). The trade was first proposed by Samsung, but the key to the deal is that KIA gained a starting catcher.
After trading catcher Park Dong-won from Kiwoom at the beginning of last season to become their starting catcher, KIA was immediately left without a catcher when Park became a free agent (FA) and moved to LG after the season. KIA tried to make a trade, but couldn’t match the cards as Samsung, who had plenty of catching options including Kang Min-ho, Kim Tae-gun and Kim Jae-sung, declared that they would “keep the door open for trades”. Samsung, who held the hand, was unwilling to budge with such a weak card. In the end, Kia turned to internal development.
But things have changed since the opening day. Kia had more serious catching issues than expected, and with Samsung in last place, infield resources were in question. After releasing infielder Lee Won-seok to bolster the bullpen and acquiring Kim Tae-hoon from Kiwoom, Samsung has been struggling lately with first baseman Oh Jae-il’s struggles and second baseman Kim Ji-chan’s struggles at the plate. This time, Samsung was the first to propose a trade. Manager Park Jin-man personally approached Kim Jong-kook and suggested a trade.
“I’ve been playing cards with Park Jin-man for a few days now, and the club finally approved it this morning,” said Kia manager Kim Jong-kook. “I felt that Kim Tae-gun had a lead that made the pitchers feel more comfortable. Our catchers are very inexperienced, so we are expecting him to fill that gap now that he is here.”
The team also cleared up redundant infield traffic. Ryu Ji-hyuk is an infielder who can play multiple positions in the infield, but has been playing mostly third base and occasionally first base. KIA, which has shortstop Park Chan-ho and second baseman Kim Sun-bin, has Kim Do-young, who can play shortstop and third base, and first basemen Hwang Dae-in and Byun Woo-hyuk. With Ryu Ji-hyuk’s departure to Samsung, KIA is likely to stick with Hwang Dae-in at first base and Kim Do-young at third base.
Both Kim Tae-gun and Ryu Ji-hyuk were added to the roster on the same day. They were traded suddenly in the morning, travelling from Pohang and Incheon respectively, and arrived just before the start of the game to join their new teams. Neither was included in the starting line-up, but were expected to come on late in the game.