The LG Twins have made a surprise move. The team has removed right-handed starting pitcher Choi Won-tae (26), who was acquired in a trade for a championship, from its roster.

The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on Nov. 11 that a total of nine players have been removed from the first team roster. The biggest name is Choi Won-tae. Choi was 8-6 with a 4.47 ERA this season when he was traded to LG in July after playing for the Kiwoom Heroes.먹튀검증

Prior to the move, Choi was a quality starting pitcher with a 6-4 record and 3.25 ERA. He was the second starter behind Ahn Woo-jin in Kiwoom, and the first starter in the league as a whole. LG, who wanted to solidify their first-place finish in the regular season, acquired him in exchange for outfielder Lee Ju-hyung, pitcher Kim Dong-gyu, and the first-round pick in the upcoming rookie draft on April 14.

However, after the transfer, Choi failed to live up to his championship billing. He met the team’s expectations by pitching six innings of two-hit ball against the Jamsil Doosan Bears on July 30, his first game after joining the team, but went 1-2 with a 10.13 ERA in his next six games. In his last start, against the Gwangju KIA Tigers on April 10, he didn’t even last two and two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits and five walks. So far, it’s a clear failure of a signing. LG’s rather drastic decision to cut him loose may have been more about recharging his batteries before the postseason (PS) than declaring him a failure.

Meanwhile, SSG Landers, who have recently fallen into a slump (2 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw in 10 games) and dropped from second place to fifth place, released infielder Kim Chan-hyung, outfielder Jeon Eui-san, and pitcher Lee Ki-soon from the first team all at once. Last-place Kiwoom, which has lost seven straight games, expunged pitcher Byun Si-won and outfielder Lee Hyung-jong. KIA, which has been on a recent upswing, sent pitcher Kim Gun-guk to the second team, while fellow NC Dinos sent outfielder Jae-hwan Shin to the third team. The Samsung Lions also designated pitcher Kim Si-hyun for assignment.