Kim Goes With Bears
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Slugger Kim Dong-joo has agreed to re-sign with the Doosan Bears, bringing to an end any fears he was set to move abroad.
The Bears official announced Sunday that franchise star Kim signed a 700 million, one-year contract ― the same as his deal last year.
The 33-year-old, who wanted to play in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, accepted the Bears' offer after failing to find a team on the other side of the East Sea.
``I must express my sorrow to the Bears and fans because I caused a lot of concern. It wasn't easy to move to the NPB for several reasons,'' Kim said ``Now, I don't have any regrets about remaining here. I will just prepare everything as if I am starting from the beginning. I want to help my team clinch the top spot."
Kim allegedly tried to move to the NPB for two straight years and looked set to join the Chiba Lotte Marines, but the rumor proved unfounded.
The right-handed slugger, who debuted in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 1998 with the OB Bears, a predecessor of the Doosan Bears, has batted .310 with 214 homers and 833 RBIs over 11 seasons.
Kim, who went .309 with 18 dingers and 104 RBIs in 109 games last season, led his team to the Korean Series for two consecutive years.
With Kim's re-signing, Bears manager Kim Kyung-moon can ease his concerns over losing a trio of star players, having struggled to make a new line-up after Hong Sung-heon moved to the Lotte Giants and Kim Dong-joo continues to seek a move overseas.
Hong batted fifth as a designated hitter (DH) and also led the Bears' offence, producing eight dingers and 63 RBIs with a .331 batting average.
Kim Dong-joo joined the Miyazaki in Japan yesterday to participate in the team's Winter Training ahead of next season.