Shin-Soo

Choo

There were rumblings last offseason that Choo was considering a return to the majors, but he’s spent the last three years in Korea playing for the SSG Landers. The 41-year-old outfielder spent 16 seasons in the majors between the Rangers, Guardians, Mariners and Reds.

It was thought that Choo wanted to return to the U.S. a year ago after spending 2021 in South Korea, but the lockout caused him to stay home. There weren’t really any such rumors of a return to MLB this time around for the 40-year-old. Choo last played in MLB with the Rangers in 2020. He hit .259/.382/.430 with 16 homers for the Landers last season.

There were some rumblings that Choo was interested in returning to the majors earlier this offseason, but wound up re-signing for another season in Korea. The 39-year-old veteran outfielder, who recently underwent elbow surgery, appeared in 136 games for the Landers last season, hitting .263/.409/.450 with 21 homers and 25 stolen bases.

Speier adds that Choo is hoping to land a major-league deal and will likely remain in Korea for another season if he’s unable to do so. The 39-year-old outfielder slashed .263/.409/.450 with 21 homers and 25 stolen bases across 580 plate appearances with the SK Wyverns in the KBO last season.

Kim notes that the Shinsegae Wyverns, formerly the SK Wyverns, got a “lukewarm reaction” from Choo when they contacted him about possibly playing for the club at the end of the 2020 MLB season, but obviously things changed as the winter trudged along. He officially signed Tuesday morning -- South Korea time -- on a deal said to be worth $2.4 million. Choo batted just .236 with a .723 OPS in 127 plate appearances last season for the Rangers and turns 39 years old this summer, so the MLB free agent interest was probably limited.

Murray also notes that several National League teams, including the Brewers, are keeping tabs on Choo as a potential cold corner option. The 38-year-old veteran served as the Rangers primary designated hitter the last few seasons, making only 20 appearances in the outfield last year, while hitting .236/.323/.400 with five home runs in 127 plate appearances across 33 games. The increased versatility could help him land a short-term deal with a senior-circuit squad as a righty-mashing specialist, especially if MLB elects to implement a universal designated hitter for the upcoming 2021 campaign. He was linked to the Phillies in a report earlier this week. Fantasy managers in deeper mixed leagues should keep him on their radar screens this spring.

Heyman adds that the Phillies have also been in contact with free agents Marwin Gonzalez and Brad Miller as they look to upgrade their bench. Choo, 38, posted a combined .809 OPS with 29 home runs and 21 stolen bases over 184 games in his final two seasons (2019-2020) in Texas. He turns 39 years old in July.

Choo was activated from the injured list before the game so that he could get one more plate appearance in the final year of his contract with the Rangers. His wrist injury left him unable to swing the bat, but he picked up a bunt single before going down awkwardly following a collision. Choo was going to leave the game even without the injury and he should have a normal offseason.

He had been looking like a long shot to return from his wrist injury this season, but Choo will be in the designated hitter spot and bat leadoff in the finale. It could just be a little sendoff situation, as Choo is in the final year of his seven-year, $130 million contract.

“He is still pretty sore,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “He was hoping he would be back by now. He still has a hard time picking up a bat. Pick up a fungo [bat] and that kind of hurts him a little bit. We are hoping to try to get him back before the end of the year. Not quite sure it will happen. Knowing him, he wants to make sure he plays one more game or a couple more games. I would like that as well.” Choo can come off the injured list at any time, but the days are running out for him to make it back. If this is the end of the year for the 38-year-old, he finishes hitting .229/.317/.394 in 126 plate appearances.