By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
American manager Jerry Royster has signed on to return to the Lotte Giants for another season.
The Busan-based team announced Thursday that the two sides have reached an agreement on a one-year contract worth $600,000 (720 million won) ― a $300,000 signing fee and a $300,000 salary.
The 57-year-old agreed to a $750,000 two-year deal late in 2007 for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Sacramento, Calif. native became the first non-Korean skipper in the history of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and led the then-perennial cellar dweller Giants to the postseason in both seasons.
However, the Giants were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs both times, which drew doubts about his leadership from fans.
Royster said through the team that he is glad to re-sign with the Giants and that he's looking forward to the 2010 season.
He added that he would try to improve the Giants with the goal of advancing to the Korean Series.
"We sent a contract to Royster, who is now in the United States, by e-mail and he returned it to us by fax after signing it,'' the team said. He will now shift his focus to searching for a new pitching coach to replace retired Fernando Arroyo.
"He will come back to Korea on Nov. 5 and set the timetable for team practice.''
When Royster returns, the team is then expected to begin talking with foreign players Karim Garcia of Mexico and Jon Adkins of the United States. The team said no decisions have yet been made on the future of either player with the two-time Korean champions.
Garcia, a former big-league journeyman outfielder, had 59 homers, 195 RBIs and 254 hits over the past two seasons and Adkins notched a league-best 26 saves with a 3.88 ERA as the team's closer this past season.
Royster played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1973 to 1988 and was named the interim manager of the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2002 season. He later became manager and led the Brewers to a 53-94 record.
Before re-signing, it had been rumored that Royster would get a place on Bobby Valentine's coaching staff. Valentine is expected to move to a big-league team next year.
Valentine, who managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, recommended Royster to Shin Dong-bin, owner of the Lotte teams in both countries.