By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
The defending champion Kia Tigers have re-signed their two biggest bats, locking up Kim Sang-hyun and Choi Hee-seop Friday.
Kim signed on for 240 million won for the upcoming season while Choi will earn 400 million won.
Kim gets a 362 percent raise from last season while Choi's salary was doubled.
Choi, the former major leaguer, signed a 350 million won contract with the Tigers midway through the 2007 season but after a bad year in 2008, his salary was cut to 200 million won last season.
But in 2009, both players were among the league's biggest power hitters and helped the Tigers to their 10th Korean Series trophy. Kim recorded a .315 batting average with 36 homers and 127 RBIs and Choi hit .308 with 33 dingers and 100 RBIs.
Choi had been asking for a half a billion won and was said to be disappointed with the Tigers offer of 350 million won.
It took seven meetings to complete Choi's deal while Kim was satisfied with the Tigers first offer
But at the end of seventh meeting the deal was completed. Meanwhile, Kim was satisfied the first offer of 230 million won but decided to wait just a little longer to get a better offer.
"I am very sorry to the fans that I took so long to sign a new contract," Choi said. "Now that the contract is completed I will give all my effort with Kim to defend the title."
"I don't want to be one-year wonder," Kim said. "In order to keep my word, it's going to take a lot more sweat during practice," added Kim