Korean first baseman Dae-ho Lee, who has spent the past two seasons playing for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, is weighing offers from three Major League teams, according to a Korean media report from Michael Min (hat tip: Han Lee of Global Sporting Integration, on Twitter). Recently, Jee-ho Yoo of Korea’s Yonhap News Agency wrote that Lee was planning to return home this weekend after training with his former team, the Korea Basbeall Organization’s Lotte Giants, in Arizona. However, Yoo now reports that Lee will postpone his trip to meet with an MLB club. It’s not clear whether the team with which Lee is meeting this weekend is a new entrant into the bidding or if he’s continuing negotiations with a club to which he has already spoken. Notably, Yoo also says that the Hawks would like to re-sign Lee and are slated to begin their own Spring Training next week, perhaps creating an urgency to make a decision.
A right-handed hitter, the 33-year-old Lee is an accomplished player in both NPB and in the KBO. He’s OPSed well over .800 across the past four seasons in Japan, including a very strong .282/.368/.524 batting line with 31 homers and 30 doubles this past season in Japan. A former KBO MVP, Lee has a lifetime batting line of .303/.387/.514 and a career-high 44 home runs, coming back in 2010 (although that was at age 28, and he’s traditionally been more of a 25- to 30-homer bat).
Lee, who is listed at 6’4″ and 286 pounds, is limited to first base and designated hitter from a defensive standpoint, but there are many clubs that could look to add someone of that skill set with his type of upside — especially if the current asking price is one year, as the Japanese report above indicates. The Astros don’t have a definitive answer at first base to begin the season, for instance, and Lee could present competition for Jon Singleton and serve as a stopgap to top prospect A.J. Reed. The Cardinals could consider him a potential platoon partner for Brandon Moss and/or Matt Adams, while the Mariners could look at him in a similar light and hope to pair him with Adam Lind. All of those fits, of course, are speculative.
Back in December, Lee’s reported goals were to sign with a winning club that offered the opportunity for regular playing time. It might be difficult to come by a contending team with a notable hole at first base or DH at this point (although Houston does fit that bill to some extent). Lee met with multiple clubs at last month’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, though little has been reported in terms of the teams to which he has actually spoken. The Pirates were said at one point to have some interest in Lee, though Pittsburgh does have Mike Morse and the since-acquired Jason Rogers as potential in-house options as right-handed-hitting first basemen.
Would love it if Dipoto signed him to pair him with Lind instead of Montero
Having already signed Gaby Sanchez into the mix with Montero. I would doubt that the Mariners would or could offer him much in playing time. Montero has no options left. He either makes the club out of ST or he’s DFA’d. The only way I see them adding him is:1 he fairly cheap, 2. if he willing to fight for a job and 3. if he’s willing to settle for a minor league job if he loses..
We all know he’s going to the mariners lol.
Are you sure?, mariners???
Gaby Sanchez is not the type of player that is guaranteed any job.
Agreed, Gaby Sanchez is a AAA depth guy who will only get called up if injuries pile up.
And we really can’t spend any more
He’s like the korean big papi could be a really good player to sign.
Erm… Lee Dae-ho can also play 3rd base by the way. Though he is really not good at it, he will improve if asked to play that position. If anyone might wanna want some link about his interview regarding about playing 3rd base, you need but ask, I’ll provide it.
A 34 year old 300 lb 3B man who according to baseball-reference has only played 1B or DH since he turned 30? Not happening.
Pretty sure all players will tell you they can play anywhere. This guy weighs 300 pounds, there has been zero 300 lb 3Bs in the history of the game. You’re fishing here bro.
I’ve seen him played that 3rd base position when he was still with Busan in his early years in the KBO, I can’t give you the exact number of games he appeared in that position but I have seen him played there before. Just because the dude’s big doesn’t mean he won’t/can’t improve himself.
Born in Korea, I have observed him since he was rookie. His 3rd base defense is not good even in Korea, But since he used to pitch, his body is incredibly flexible and quick compared to his weight. His 1st base defense is not bad. I think he can do 1st base defense 20 -30 games.
Well his numbers overseas are pretty good hitting wise, but his strikeouts have gone up the last few years. He is a big guy, and overweight, so if I would advise him, I’d have him cut down 15/20 lbs since at his weight it will be hard to prolonged his career. A team who needs a first baseman or DH should really consider him.
from what i’ve been led to believe, the Rangers are maxed out salary wise. choo, fielder, beltre, elvis, yu, hamels don’t leave a lot of room for expensive FA’s.
Would be nice if Pirates spent money and signed him but I know better!
I think the Rangers like chunky first basemen or DH’s
I wonder how cheaply he’d be willing to sign? This is a big stretch, but….the Mets lack an actual backup 1B (Wilmer Flores is the closest). Duda has played better against lefties, but he could need some days off. Lee could be DH for all of the inter-league games, as the Mets lack any decent DH options.
david wright should be the backup at 1b, actually he should be there everyday with that rubberband he calls a arm.
Pirates would make zero sense at this point. They did acquire Rogers but more importantly they signed Jaso to play 1B.