Kia Tigers Face Tough Decisions Ahead of Free Agency Market

By Zhang Jiuzhou (Julius)

With the 2025 KBO season officially over, teams across the league are gearing up for a silent but fierce battle in the upcoming free agent market as they seek to strengthen their rosters for next year.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) recently released a list of 30 players eligible for free agency in 2026 – comprising seven in Class A, 13 in Class B, and 10 in Class C. Teams signing Class A free agents must compensate the player’s former club with both a non-protected player (from a list excluding 20 protected players) and either 200 or 300 percent of the player’s previous annual salary. For Class B players, the compensation is one unprotected player (excluding 25 protected players) plus 100 or 200 percent of the player’s previous salary. Class C players, meanwhile, require no compensation player and only 150 percent of their previous salary paid.

The Kia Tigers have six players eligible for free agency this offseason: star shortstop Park Chan- ho, veteran slugger Choi Hyeong-woo, longtime ace Yang Hyeon-jong, reliever Lee Jun-yeong, setup man Jo Sang-woo, and catcher Han Seung- taek. At this time, all six are expected to test the market.

Among them, Park Chan-ho stands out as Kia’s top priority – and one of the hottest names in free agency. Negotiating with any of the six players will be no easy task, and the Tigers will need to decide which players they simply cannot afford to lose. But Kia is not the only team pursuing Park; competition for his services is expected to be fierce.

Park has been Kia’s starting shortstop since 2019, appearing in over 130 games each season. Known for his excellent defense, speed, and energy, Park has also made significant strides offensively in recent years, turning one of his former weaknesses into a strength. His consistent play has made him indispensable. Ironically, his durability has prevented other players from gaining experience at shortstop – meaning Kia needs him more than anyone else.

Next in line is Choi Hyeong-woo, who turns 43 next year but remains one of the KBO’s premier clutch hitters. League insiders say several teams have expressed interest, with one reportedly preparing a competitive offer. Despite that, Choi’s loyalty to Kia runs deep, and if the conditions are reasonable, he is expected to stay.

As a Class C free agent, Choi can sign freely without compensation, which makes him an appealing target. There is, of course, some risk that his performance could decline with age, but he has defied expectations, maintaining top form well into his 40s. Analysts believe that any team aiming to contend for the 2026 title would be wise to offer him a one-year deal worth around one billion won – a manageable investment for a player of his pedigree.

In contrast, demand for Jo Sang-woo and Yang Hyeon-jong appears limited. Jo, now classified as a Class A player, struggled this year, diminishing his market value compared to when the Kiwoom Heroes floated him in trade discussions last season. Yang, meanwhile, has shown signs of decline. At nearly 40 years old, signing him as a starter carries obvious risk, but both he and Kia are expected to continue their long-standing partnership. He will likely return next year as a member of the starting rotation, albeit with a reduced workload to help him stay healthy.

Realistically, Kia cannot retain all six free agents. The team will need to adopt a select-and-focus approach – prioritizing key players while making difficult choices elsewhere. If the Tigers believe younger players can fill certain roles, they may choose to let some veterans walk rather than overspend.

In the end, the question for Kia remains the same: Who stays, and who goes?

Cover Photo: Park Chan-ho celebrates during a recent game. (Kia Tigers)