Are local teams disadvantaged if they are the same value? "Need to change the $1 million limit" → Will it lead to an increase in the number of non-KBO players

The new contract limit for foreign players in the KBO League is 1 million U.S. dollars. The revision was made ahead of the 2019 season, which was interpreted as a change to improve the high-cost contract structure related to the foreign player system and induce fair competition. 메이저놀이터

However, five years later, it is pointed out that the $1 million limit for new foreign players is not realistic. In the meantime, global prices have risen and the competitiveness of KBO League foreign players has declined due to the increase in the minimum wage for minor leagues. 

Japanese professional baseball (NPB) clubs, which have no restrictions on foreign player contracts, are also using the KBO League's new foreign player system of $1 million. This is because they offer slightly higher amount than $1 million when negotiating with foreign player candidates who overlap with KBO League clubs. 

On top of that, provincial teams have no choice but to be at a fundamental disadvantage. If the team pays the same amount of 1 million U.S. dollars at the same time, the Seoul metropolitan teams with relatively good infrastructure for foreign players will benefit greatly. A foreign player, whose multiple teams including provincial teams have recently competed, reportedly felt the merit of the Seoul metropolitan teams and signed a contract for the 2025 season. 

Of course, local clubs do not mean that they cannot recruit high-quality foreign players at all. There are enough big success stories if they discover hidden gems or if they are lucky and timed. There are always cases of outliers like this, but if you look at it coolly, it does not change that local clubs are at a disadvantage over those in the metropolitan area. 

"I can feel that local teams are fundamentally at a disadvantage in recruiting foreign players. Personally, I think the 1 million dollar cap is a shackle to local teams at the present time, which has changed significantly from the situation five years ago. Isn't there already a 4 million dollar salary cap regulation for foreign players? I hope that the government will lift such double restrictions and create a freer foreign market competition system," said an official from the club. 


Attention is also focusing on the possibility of an expansion and transformation of foreign players in line with the introduction of the Asian quarter, which is scheduled to be introduced in 2026. Korean baseball has been suffering crushing defeat in the international arena recently. Compared with the growth rate of Japanese and Taiwanese baseball, Korean baseball has lagged far behind. 

After all, the breadth of international exchanges is key. In Japan, foreign players are fiercely competing for survival even within its own league. As there is no restriction on the registration of foreign players in the second division, a system has been established to bring in foreign players and foster them. Taiwan has a low threshold for players to enter overseas markets such as the U.S. and Japan. Taiwanese players are known to be eligible to post if they meet the three-year criteria for playing in the first division.

The KBO League should not remain closed forever in line with the global trend of baseball exchanges. Even if it is not a sudden change, a system should be established in which high-quality foreign players enter the KBO League to compete under a long-term plan. Some point out that the introduction of the Asian quarter for the first team should go beyond the scheduled introduction of the Asian quarter for the second team to open the door for foreign players who are willing to invest in the second team. 

The head coach of club B said, "Honestly, it's a pity that there is no single player who goes to the Japanese professional baseball stage and tries it like before. In the end, even if it's only on the domestic stage, they receive a large amount of money that's comparable to Japan, so they don't seem to have the will to challenge themselves to a higher level. It is true that for the development of Korean baseball, international exchanges between good players should become active." 

Stagnant water rotts. It is one of the truths that can be applied in any field. Attention is focusing on whether the KBO will be able to set up a long-term plan to develop Korean baseball in relation to the foreign player system without being intoxicated with the 10 million-strong audience for the first time in 2024.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Comments on “Are local teams disadvantaged if they are the same value? "Need to change the $1 million limit" → Will it lead to an increase in the number of non-KBO players”

Leave a Reply

Gravatar