Free agent Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee agreed to sign a six-year, $113 million deal with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. He had been one of the main targets of the San Diego Padres all offseason, so it stings to see him head to a division rival.
The Padres' front office has been trying to shed salary this winter, which makes things very difficult in trying to land free-agent talent. San Diego was never going to pay what San Francisco did, no matter how interested in Lee they were.
Padres insider Dennis Lin seemed to infer that San Diego was indeed outbid by San Francisco for the services of Lee. The teams’ biggest priority this winter has been starting pitching help, so they likely are saving their resources to put toward that area of need.
But Lee would have fit in very well with the Padres lineup, giving them a solid replacement after trading away star outfielder Juan Soto. He could have given them another power-hitting left-handed bat in the lineup, something that San Diego desperately needs to find this winter.
Last season, Lee slashed .349/.421/.575 with 23 home runs. His bat would have been a welcomed sight, and he is still only 25 years old.
San Diego will now need to pivot elsewhere for help in free agency, and looking on the trade market may be their best bet. This front office will need to get creative to make sure that they are keeping up with the rest of the division.
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