By Cho Mu-hyun
The Kia Tigers have strengthened their roster by signing two foreign pitchers for the season, which will start in March.
Alex Graman and Anthony Lerew joined the club Monday on a one-year contract worth $250,000 as well as receiving a $50,000 signing bonus.
The two former Major Leaguers have experience playing in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. Kia manager Sun Dong-yeol prefers imports who understand Asian baseball.
Graman, a left-hander standing 1.93-meters tall and weighing 93 kilograms, played for the New York Yankees in 2004 and 2005.
He joined the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan in 2006 and was 13-18 with 52 saves and a 3.82 ERA in the six years with the club. His best performance was as a closer in 2008, when he earned 31 saves with a 1.42 ERA.
Lerew, a right-hander at 1.91 meters and 91 kilograms was with the Atlanta Braves from 2005 to 2007, and the Kansas City Royals in 2009 and 2010. He had a 1-7 record with a 7.48 ERA in the majors, and was 62-48 with a 3.41 ERA for his 13 years in the minors.
He is leaving last year’s Japanese Series winners SoftBank Hawks.
Sun is known to have asked for two left-handers to add to his bullpen and as a starting pitcher.
Yoon Suk-min, last year’s Most Valuable Player and golden glove winner for designated pitcher, also finished talks with the Tigers on Sunday.
The ace agreed a new contract Sunday for 380 million won a year, doubling last year’s 190 million, the highest raise on the team.
Kia have never offered a pitcher an increase of more than 100 million won prior to this. In 2010, pitcher Yuh Dong-hoon set a club record for his 90 million won raise.
Yoon initially asked for 430 million won, which would have been a record for a player in their eighth year in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The Tigers countered with 300 million, leading to protracted negotiations. But the two parties decided to resolve the issue to focus on spring training that starts this month.
The contract is known to exclude the right to file for the posting system. The 25-year-old will most likely pursue a Major League career next year when he becomes a free agent.
The Tigers also finalized contracts with three other players. Lee Bum-ho was given a 490 million won deal, the club’s highest this year, while pitcher Son Yeong-min will earn 135 million won and infielder Ahn Chi-hong 125 million. Pitcher Lee Jong-beom, who will turn 42 this year and become the oldest player to take the mound in the KBO, agreed a 160 million won contract.
The Korean players left for the United States on Sunday for their spring camp training in Surprise, Ariz. The two new imports will join them as soon as possible.