The San Francisco Giants have had difficulties in attracting top free agents in recent years. They have been deep in negotiations with some of the biggest names in the market, only to see those players ultimately sign elsewhere.
If you’re going to fail with domestic free agents, it makes sense to turn overseas. San Francisco may not be an appealing destination for Americans (I understand completely, as the city is greatly overrated), the west coast location gives the Giants an advantage in signing free agents from Asia.
Jung Hoo Lee was a second-generation star in South Korea’s KBO league.