S. Korean first baseman Kim Tae-kyun terminates deal with Japanese club

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Kim Tae-kyun, South Korean first baseman for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's professional baseball league, has decided to end his career there with one year left on his contract, Kim's agency in Seoul said Wednesday.
IB Sports said Kim and the Marines agreed on Tuesday to cancel the final year of Kim's three-year contract signed before the 2010 season. Sources said Kim first asked for the contract's termination because he would no longer be much help to the team due to a back injury.
The Marines tried to keep Kim on board before granting his request.
Kim had signed for 150 million yen (US$1.9 million) per season plus a 100 million yen signing bonus to join the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team. With the termination, Kim will become a free agent after this season.
Kim, formerly of the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), returned to South Korea last Wednesday for treatment for his back injury.
The 29-year-old slugger enjoyed a successful first year in Japan, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 92 runs, and also helped the Marines win the Japan Series championship. He was also the top vote getter in the Pacific League for last year's All-Star Game.


Wrist and back injuries limited Kim to only one home run and 14 runs batted in (RBI) over 36 games this year.
Kim was the KBO rookie of the year in 2001, after batting .335 with 20 home runs and 54 RBI in 88 games. In nine KBO seasons, Kim posted a career average of .310, and belted at least 20 home runs in six of those seasons.
He caught the eyes of international scouts as South Korea's clean-up hitter at the 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He led the tournament with three home runs and 11 RBI as South Korea finished second to Japan.
Kim will be free to sign with any KBO team after this season, and the Eagles, as his original club, have the priority in contract negotiations with him.
Under the league free agency rule, any other team that acquires Kim must pay the Eagles cash or send them a player in compensation.
jeeho@yna.co.kr