Headlines

  • Cardinals To Select Jordan Walker
  • Mets Option Brett Baty, Mark Vientos
  • Luke Voit Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With The Brewers
  • Mets Sign Dylan Bundy To Minor League Deal
  • Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians
  • Cardinals Sign Miles Mikolas To Two-Year Extension
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Latest On Shin-Soo Choo

By Anthony Franco | November 10, 2021 at 8:29pm CDT

8:29pm: Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News reports that Choo told Korean media last week that he trying to decide whether to return to KBO or retire. He also adds that Choo is not a free agent and hasn’t told the Landers about any intention of returning to MLB.

6:55pm: After sixteen seasons in the major leagues, Shin-soo Choo returned to his native South Korea in February. The former All-Star signed a one-year, $2.4MM contract with the KBO’s SSG Landers, telling reporters at the time that he turned down bigger offers from MLB teams to have an opportunity to play in front of his family.

That seemed likely to close the book on Choo’s playing career in the United States, but that may not necessarily be the case. Choo is hoping to sign a major league contract this offseason, reports Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (Twitter link). He’s already fielded interest from teams on minor league offers, but Speier adds that he isn’t expected to leave the KBO unless he receives a guaranteed big league deal.

Choo is coming off a strong showing with the Landers. Across 580 trips to the plate, he hit .265/.409/.451 with 21 home runs. The fantastic plate discipline that Choo annually demonstrated in the majors carried over into his new environment, as he walked at a massive 17.9% clip against a 21.2% strikeout rate. Choo’s .860 OPS ranked twelfth among the 74 hitters with 300+ KBO plate appearances.

Whether that’ll be enough to earn Choo a major league job remains to be seen. The 39-year-old had hit at a slightly above-average level for much of his tenure with the Rangers, but he became increasingly strikeout-prone towards the end of his big league career. He’s also limited to the corner outfield, where defensive metrics have pegged him as a well below-average defender for years. The potential introduction of the designated hitter to the National League in collective bargaining talks could expand Choo’s market a bit, but most teams have preferred to cycle multiple players through that spot rather than commit anyone there in an everyday capacity. Clubs have made exceptions for elite bats like Nelson Cruz and J.D. Martinez, but Choo’s offensive numbers later in his career have been more solid than great.

Share 0 Retweet 8 Send via email0

Korea Baseball Organization Shin-Soo Choo

Dodgers Sign Andrew Heaney
Main
Giants Notes: Belt, DeSclafani, Suzuki
View Comments (38)

Comments

  1. Balk

    1 year ago

    I don’t know man, I just don’t know. Lol

    Reply
    • The Mets "Missed WAR"

      1 year ago

      So Choo “turned down bigger offers from MLB teams” to go play in Korea but now he wants to come back to MLB? If those bigger offers were really there why did he leave in the first place? He was willing to take a discount to play in Korea but now he wants out? Why did he sour on his home country so quickly? I’m thinking the “bigger offers” had incentives tied into them making the potential salary higher but the guaranteed salary less.

      Reply
      • manfraud

        1 year ago

        Playing in front of fans might’ve been a driving factor, especially if it wasn’t all that much of a paycut. Attendance was very much up in air earlier this MLB season

        Reply
      • expos_back_by_2025

        1 year ago

        Nah, as far as I remember, he left to stay closer to his family when the covid outbreak began to be something major

        Reply
      • MuleorAstroMule

        1 year ago

        What if this season became another 60 gamer and salaries got pro-rated again? That risk could have factored into his decision as well.

        Reply
  2. Monkey’s Uncle

    1 year ago

    Could he play in the majors again? The idea is something to Choo on.

    Seriously though, Choo has always had one of the sweetest looking swings I’ve ever seen, and I’d love to see him give MLB one more go around.

    Reply
  3. Action

    1 year ago

    Breaking News: Manny Ramirez trying to make another comeback with DH coming to both leagues

    Reply
    • pwndroia

      1 year ago

      Manny Ramirez still has to serve a 100 game suspension if and when he returns.

      Reply
      • tstats

        1 year ago

        What if it’s a minors deal

        Reply
  4. Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid

    1 year ago

    If DH comes to the NL, I could see Choo back in the MLB. Slot him in with the Pirates on a cheap deal so they can flip him at the trade deadline for new pair of slacks and a glow-in-the-dark yoyo.

    Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      1 year ago

      As a Pirates fan, it’s actually not a ridiculous idea. They lack a lot of things, which include in guys with on base ability.

      Reply
      • misterlol

        1 year ago

        Lol

        Reply
    • SpendNuttinWinNuttin

      1 year ago

      Just no lol. The Pirates don’t need a 39 year old in terms of ‘hoping’ he’s good enough to flip. They need actual major league talent.

      Reply
  5. Jake1972

    1 year ago

    If DH happens then Chi-Town on the North Side is where he should sign because the yard is short and he would fit perfectly with a team tanking…

    Reply
  6. jdgoat

    1 year ago

    Will always have a ton of respect for Choo after stepping up and paying every minor leaguer in the Rangers system during the 2020 pandemic. Any team would be lucky to have him in their organization.

    Reply
    • chris44

      1 year ago

      This is so true. Classy dude.

      Reply
  7. TJECK109

    1 year ago

    Pirates

    Reply
  8. CravenMoorehead

    1 year ago

    He wants a Major League OpporCHOOnity

    Reply
    • Edp007

      1 year ago

      Jack Morris got fired for less lol

      Reply
    • dirkg

      1 year ago

      Big League Choo.

      Reply
  9. MIKE PAUL

    1 year ago

    he could help a lot of teams if universal DH goes into effect. on base percentage guy with some power, his bat still plays

    Reply
  10. Vizionaire

    1 year ago

    LMAO!

    Reply
  11. Rsox

    1 year ago

    I can’t see him getting a MLB deal until maybe after the CBA and we know for sure whether the NL will have a DH or not

    Reply
  12. creacher

    1 year ago

    I’ve always liked the guy. Not a fan of any of the teams he’s played for, but I’ve always respected his game

    Reply
  13. Oneofthesedays

    1 year ago

    He should get a deal, just not likely with a contender. Always liked choo, got his auto in San Antonio when he was doing rehab with Frisco. He was definitely popular here in SA

    Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      1 year ago

      You parked his car? Sweet!

      Reply
  14. sf2win

    1 year ago

    I hear the Mets have an opening for someone looking for an opportunity.

    Reply
  15. JerryBird

    1 year ago

    Over there, Choo played to the equivalent of AA Ball and got decent numbers, I wish him luck.

    Reply
  16. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    Love Choo, but dont think his numbers last year and his age make such a move likely.

    Reply
  17. No Soup For Yu!

    1 year ago

    Just out of curiosity if anyone can answer. KBO teams are capped at 3 foreign players on their roster each year. Choo is Korean, but he never played in the KBO before coming to the states. Does he qualify as a foreign player because of his MLB career coming before his KBO career, or is it just as simple as, “He’s Korean, so he’s not a foreign player under the rule.”

    Reply
  18. DodgerOK

    1 year ago

    I’m looking for a major league deal, too!

    Reply
  19. sadosfan

    1 year ago

    Does anybody know if he’s a JR? Because he definitely displays junior behavior.

    Reply
  20. Bledcam

    1 year ago

    Whatever he does, I’m rooting for him.

    Reply
    • craigmiller13

      1 year ago

      Loved him during his brief Cincinnati days. Really a class dude!

      Reply
  21. BillyBaggins

    1 year ago

    His career just didn’t pan out in MLB. He made a lot of bread.

    Reply
  22. jobe0722

    1 year ago

    Choo how many championships dis you win with the team you always wanted to play for?

    Reply
  23. enjoylindor

    1 year ago

    A reunion with the Guardians? He would be an improvement from any in-house option

    Reply
  24. Peart of the game

    1 year ago

    He also stole 25 bases in 34 attempts this year.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Cardinals To Select Jordan Walker

    Mets Option Brett Baty, Mark Vientos

    Luke Voit Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With The Brewers

    Mets Sign Dylan Bundy To Minor League Deal

    Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians

    Cardinals Sign Miles Mikolas To Two-Year Extension

    Keston Hiura Will Not Make Brewers’ Roster

    Rhys Hoskins Diagnosed With Torn ACL, Will Undergo Surgery

    Jed Lowrie Announces Retirement

    Jose Altuve To Miss About Two Months Due To Thumb Surgery

    Rockies Sign Jurickson Profar

    Braves Option Vaughn Grissom, Braden Shewmake

    Jose Altuve Leaves WBC Game After Hit By Pitch

    Edwin Diaz Undergoes Surgery To Repair Patellar Tendon

    Out Of Options 2023

    Cade Cavalli To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Edwin Diaz Helped Off Field With Right Knee Injury

    José Quintana Out Until At Least July Due To Rib Surgery

    Trevor Bauer Signs With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars

    Craig Stammen “Highly Unlikely” To Pitch Again Following Shoulder Injury

    Recent

    Orioles Notes: Givens, Tate, McCann

    Kyle Wright To Begin Season On 15-Day IL; Braves To Use Jared Shuster, Dylan Dodd In Rotation

    NL West Notes: Gonsolin, Profar, Senzatela, Cron, Cobb, D’backs

    AL West Notes: Angels, Astros, Brantley

    Cardinals To Select Jordan Walker

    Nationals Announce Several Roster Cuts

    Guardians Acquire Steve Hajjar From Reds To Complete Will Benson Trade

    Joey Votto May Begin Season On Injured List

    Rockies To Select Mike Moustakas, Ty Blach, Harold Castro

    Mets Option Brett Baty, Mark Vientos

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version