Jung Hoo Lee established himself as one of the greatest players in KBO history, winning an MVP award and demonstrating a complete game.

That success convinced the San Francisco Giants to pay him $113 million to move to the Bay Area. The contract was expensive, but San Francisco believed it was acquiring the player it had scouted in Korea.

Lee has not fully met those expectations. He has not been a bad MLB player, but his transition has included growing pains and alarming inconsistency at the plate.

President of baseball operations Buster Posey faces major decisions after the Giants lost nearly 100 games in 2026 and finished 35 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

San Francisco also had several young outfield prospects debut. The Giants could potentially receive similar production for considerably less than the $63 million-plus Lee is owed over the next three seasons.

Lee arrived with a reputation for hitting for average while rarely striking out. He was never expected to suddenly develop power against MLB pitching inside pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.

At times, his hitting ability has been unmistakable.

Lee hit .366 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 236 plate appearances from April 10 through June 23, briefly convincing fans that he had permanently adjusted to MLB.

He then hit .223 over his next 294 plate appearances, turning the season into a tale of two halves.

A similar pattern unfolded during 2025, his first full MLB season. Lee started quickly and announced himself with a multi-home run performance against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2025.

He subsequently struggled for two months before finishing strongly. Fans remained patient because it was essentially his rookie season and expected him to avoid another prolonged slump in 2026. Instead, the downturn returned near the end of the year.

Despite reaching them differently, Lee produced eerily similar season totals in both campaigns.

2025: .266/.327/.407 with eight home runs, 55 RBIs and 10 stolen bases with a .735 OPS in 150 games

2026: .276/.320/.404 with 10 home runs, 57 RBIs and 12 stolen bases with a .724 OPS in 143 games

That production may resemble an average MLB player, but his salary creates the concern. Lee is owed $23.25 million this year. If he exercises his option after the season, which appears almost guaranteed, he will receive $20.5 million in each of the following two years.

Posey must therefore consider placing Lee on the trade market. A market should exist if San Francisco pays part of the remaining money.

The objective would be creating an outfield opening and financial flexibility rather than maximizing the return. The Giants must rebuild their rotation and bullpen, making every available dollar valuable.

Top outfield prospect Bo Davidson received a late-season opportunity and appears capable of becoming an important part of the team’s future. Jonah Cox, Turner Hill, Scott Bandura and Victor Bericoto also impressed during 2026.

Lee still offers contact ability, defensive value and experience, but consistency must follow.

Trading him would allow San Francisco to redirect resources while opening opportunities for younger outfielders. Keeping him would require confidence that his strongest stretches can finally become sustainable.