By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Doosan Bears slugger Kim Dong-joo is likely to join the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), it has emerged.
Sports Nippon, a Japanese sports newspaper, said Saturday that the Marines are trying to acquire Kim, who has produced 214 homers in the Korean league.
It also said a Marines official and Kim's agent met at the Baseball Winter Meeting in Las Vegas last week.
Although Marines president Ryuzo Setoyama denied it, team officials admitted having inquired Kim who currently plays in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
In addition, the Baseball governing body also confirmed Thursday the inquiry by the baseball club, managed by American Bobby Valentine.
The Marines had already put Kim on their recruiting list, but his expensive salary of 700 million won ($508,000), along with a 200 million-won option, forced them to pull out.
However, after the 32-year-old third baseman said he does not care about money, talks between the two sides have progressed.
The Japanese side, which is now saddled with a deficit operation, is reported to have valued him at 450 million won.
The Bears courted him with a 6.2 billion won, four-year deal last year, but Kim turned downed the offer and instead agreed to a one-year contract to play in Japan.
The right-handed power hitter, who made his KBO debut in 1998 with the OB Bears, a predecessor of the Doosan Bears, has batted .310 with 214 homers and 833 RBIs during 11 seasons.
Kim, who played for South Korea at the 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games and the World Baseball Classic in 2006, is a spray hitter with a good batting eye.
The three-time Japan Series winner was founded in 1950 and plays in the Pacific League.
South Korean hitter Lee Seung-yeop played for the team in 2004 and 2005 before moving to the Yomiuri Giants.