Lee Jung-hoo emerges as a top MLB trade target ahead of deadline
With his San Francisco Giants falling out of the playoff race, speculation has grown that the outfielder could be traded to a team gearing up for a postseason run.
San Francisco Giants center fielder Lee Jung-hoo is seen on the field during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on July 4.REUTERS/YONHAP
Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants is drawing attention ahead of MLB’s July 31 trade deadline, as U.S. media have identified the Korean outfielder as one of the league's top trade candidates.
ESPN updated its list of the top 100 potential trade candidates and top potential fits on Monday, ranking Lee seventh.
Lee is having a standout season in San Francisco. The everyday center fielder is batting .315 through 82 games, ranking third in the National League and fifth in the MLB. His strong performance has also made him one of the Giants' most valuable trade assets.
As the trade deadline approaches, postseason contenders typically look to acquire impact players from teams that have fallen out of the playoff race. The Giants currently sit fourth in the National League West, making an early roster reset for next season and beyond a realistic option.
ESPN's list also included several teams’ cornerstones. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal ranked first, followed by Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña and Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. Most play for teams that have struggled this season.
As for where Lee might end up, the sports outlet identified the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins as possible landing spots.
San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers, left, and Lee Jung-hoo celebrate during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in San Francisco on July 6.AP/YONHAP
Sporting News, another U.S.-based sports media outlet, said in its Monday article that the Giants' decision on Lee could reveal the club's long-term direction.
“Do they [the Giants] see themselves being competitive in the next few years? Then it'd make sense to keep Lee,” wrote Sporting News. “Is this a wholesale rebuild? Maybe they trade Lee, too.”
Lee started in center field and batted fifth against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. He went 1-for-4 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to five games and moved within two hits of reaching 100 for the season.
“While the Giants' desire to dump their high-profile players with high-priced contracts will run into plenty of resistance, they should be able to cobble together a market if they really are interested in moving Lee,” said ESPN. “Lee is primed to get a big return if the Giants indeed move him.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
