Kim Tae-kyun, seen here in a file photo, is the most highly sought-after free agent in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) this winter. Kim is also receiving lots of interest from Japan, including the Chiba Lotte Marines, which have sent a delegation to attempt to make a deal with the slugger.
/ Korea Times File |
Highly Sought-After Free Agent Set to Enter Negotiations With Chiba Lotte Marines
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Korean slugger Kim Tae-kyun of the Hanwha Eagles could soon be on his way to Japan as the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) have sent representatives to Korea to try to negotiate a deal with the first baseman.
The Marines were granted permission to negotiate with Kim after seeking approval from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Thursday.
The Japanese club said that Kim is at the top of its wish list this offseason.
"We are confident that we will acquire Kim Tae-kyun. He is a very valuable player and we will negotiate with him first," Marines vice president Akira Ishikawa told the Japanese press. It was also reported that Ryuzo Setoyama, the club's president, is part of the delegation that will negotiate with Kim.
Kim's former team, the Hanwha Eagles, had exclusive rights to negotiate with him up until Thursday but no deal was completed.
The Japanese team should have room in its budget for the slugger after losing coach Bobby Valentine, who earned about 500 million yen (5.8 billion won), and pitcher Naoyuki Shimizu, who moved to the Yokohama BayStars, taking his 240-million-yen (3.1 billion won) salary with him.
With that extra money left to spend, Ishikawa said, "We want to use our funds to get Kim."
The Korean slugger is apparently very interested in making the move across the East Sea.
The Marines reportedly could offer the 27-year-old more than 1.9 billion won (150 million yen) as an annual salary. It's believed that Kim could command a two-year deal with more than 5.2 billion won (400 million yen), including a signing bonus.
The Marines spent big money on another Korean, Lee Seung-yeop, now with the Yomiuri Giants, in 2004. The club gave Lee a 500-million-yen, two-year contract - 200 million yen in annual salary and a 100-million-yen signing bonus.
It's not often that a player with no experience in the NPB can command an annual salary of over 100 million yen but Kim is a highly sought-after free agent.
Kim recorded a .345 batting average and three home runs with 11 RBIs in the second World Baseball Classic, leading Korea to second place.
In the KBO, the first baseman grabbed the rookie of year award in 2001 and has a batting average of .310, 188 home runs and 701 RBIs over nine seasons. He was the league's home run king in 2008 with 31 homers.
This past year, Kim hit .330 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in 95 games despite missing time with a concussion early in the season.
Meanwhile, Kim's former team, the Eagles, have not lost hope of bringing him back.
"We asked him to stay with the team because he is the most important player for our team," Eagles president Yoon Jong-wha said after a second meeting with Kim on Tuesday.
"We don't care what the Japanese press said. We will just do our best."
yc@koreatimes.co.kr
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