The pitcher, who grew up with Kim Ha-sung in SD, signed a three-year, 91.2 billion-special contract with KC, who is now too precious
Jul 28, 2025
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ESPN said on the 28th (Korea time) 'Right-hander Seth Lugo and Kansas City have agreed to a two-year, $46 million extension contract'He disappeared from the trade market a few days before the trade deadline (7 a.m. on August 1st). Kansas City is committed to advancing to the playoffs aiming for the AL wild card, the report said.
According to ESPN, Lugo's annual salary is $20 million each in 2026 and 2027, and he set 2028 as a $20 million besting option or a $17 million team option with a $3 million buyout for $3 million. If the besting option is implemented, it will receive up to $66 million (about 91.2 billion won) for three years.
As of today, Kansas City is ranked third in the AL Central with 52 wins and 54 losses and seventh in the wild card. They are four games behind the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, who tied for third in the wild card, the cut line for the playoffs. It seems to be a judgment that it is still worth trying.
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Lugo is 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 113 innings in 19 appearances this season. He is in the starting triangle with Michael Waka and Chris Vuvic in the team. In the case of Vuvic, he was listed on the IL due to a rotator cuff injury, and Kansas City's starters are in a shaky situation.
Existing ace Collegins is also on the IL due to a shoulder injury, and he has resumed pitching training and is planning a bullpen session soon. Another starter, Michael Lorenzen, also plans to prepare for his return from an injury to his abdominal muscles.
In other words, Lugo is leading an unstable starting team with stable pitching, so it can be said that he has instilled confidence through an extension contract, not a trade.
Lugo, who was born in November 1989, made his major league debut at the relatively late age of 26. After receiving favorable reviews as a bullpen pitcher for the New York Mets from 2016 to 2022, he became a full-time starter when he moved to the San Diego Padres in 2023 and stood tall as a top pitcher.
Lugo, who went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 26 appearances that year, qualified as an FA and signed a two-year, $30 million contract with Kansas City and $15 million player option in 2026. So, this time, we destroyed the $15 million player option next year and signed a new contract '2+1 year'.
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He played for San Diego for one season, but was considered to have succeeded in turning into a top starting pitcher at a late age. However, it is Kim Ha-sung who grew into a top fielder in San Diego that year. Kim Ha-sung marked a batting average of 0.260 with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 84 runs, 38 steals, and 0.749, and began to draw attention from the Major League by winning the NL utility Gold Glove while watching shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman.
In other words, Lugo and Kim Ha-sung were representative pitching products raised by San Diego in 2023. Lugo left San Diego first, and Kim Ha-sung completed 2024 and obtained his FA status and transferred to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Lugo pitched 206 ⅔ innings in 33 games last year, his first season as a transfer, and posted 16-9 losses, 3.00 ERA, and 181 strikeouts to rank second in the AL Cy Young Award voting. In addition, for the first time in his life, he also won the pitcher's Gold Glove Award.
This season, he is showing his constant skills by ranking 10th in the AL in the ERA category, 8th in WHIP (1.09), and 10th in the hit rate (0.219).
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
