Two baseball All-Stars sign lucrative free agent deals

SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean baseball All-Stars signed lucrative free agent contracts on Monday, as teams sought to shore up their rosters for next season and beyond in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

The NC Dinos made a big splash by inking third baseman Park Sok-min to a four-year deal worth 8.6 billion won (US$7.4 million) in guaranteed money -- 3 billion won in total salary and 5.6 billion won in signing bonus. Park could make an additional 1 billion won in options, which would then make him the highest-paid player in KBO history.

The 30-year-old has spent his entire 10-year career with the Samsung Lions before the Dinos snatched him to address their need for a steady third baseman and some right-handed power.

Park batted a career-high .321 in 2015 with 26 home runs and 116 RBIs, also his personal best. He has hit .300 or better in each of the past four years, and is a career .297 hitter with 163 home runs in 1,027 career games.

Park will join a powerful lineup that features the reigning KBO MVP Eric Thames, emerging outfielder Na Sung-bum and veteran designated hitter Lee Ho-jun. Thames, Na and Lee each drove in at least 100 runs.

Elsewhere, the Hanwha Eagles signed left-handed reliever Jung Woo-ram to a four-year deal for 8.4 billion won -- 1.2 billion won per season in salary and 3.6 billion in signing bonus -- making him the second-highest paid pitcher in league history.

Jung had been with the SK Wyverns over the previous 10 seasons, splitting his time as a setup man and a closer. Thanks to his changeup, Jung, 30, has been one of the league's most effective left-handed relievers. He recorded 16 saves and 11 holds with a 3.21 ERA in 69 appearances this year.

Jung will be reunited with his former SK manager Kim Sung-keun, who's credited with developing Jung into a force during his five-season tenure with the Wyverns.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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