SOUTH KOREA – The reigning Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) champion Kia Tigers have re-signed Aquilino Lopez for 433 million won ($375,000) and are in negotiations with Rick Guttormson. The dominating one-two punch combined for 27 wins last season.

The Tigers also increased their offer to slugger Choi Hee-seop (pictured) to 390 million won annually right before Christmas. But the first baseman, who batted .308 with 33 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2009,is seeking a deal worth 500 million won a year.

SK WYVERNS RE-SIGNS IMPORT PITCHERS
SK Wyverns have re-signed both of their import players, Japanese pitcher Ken Kadokura and American hurler Gary Glover, from 2009.
Kadokura inked a one-year deal for $300,000 and a $50,000 signing bonus, while Glover signed for $375,000 and a $75,000 signing bonus.

HANWHA ADDS DOMINICAN HURLERS
The Hanwha Eagles have added a pair of former major leaguers, Jose Capellan and Julio DePaula, from the Dominican Republic.

Capellan, who wore the suits of four MLB teams, posted a 5-7 career record in the big leagues. DePaula played with the Minnesota Twins in 2007.

The Eagles lost closer Brad Thomas, who went 2-5 with a 2.88 ERA and 13 saves this past season, when he signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers.

TWINS REFUSE RAISE FOR STAFF ACE
LG Twins ace Bong Jung-keun’s request for a small raise has met stiff resistance from the league’s worst team. Bong earned 360 million won this past season and asked for a salary of 400 million won in 2010. He went 11-8 with a 3.29 ERA and chewed up 172 1/3 for an awful squad this past season.

LOTTE RETAINS GARCIA, ADDS SADOWSKI
The Lotte Giants will bring back Mexican slugger Karim Garcia for another season and American skipper Jerry Royster has recruited former San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Sadowski for 2010.

Garcia joins Doug Clark of the Seoul Heroes as the only foreign position players to be retained by their respective KBO clubs. Sadowski was recruited by the NPB’s Yokohama BayStars this past season but the Giants declined to sell his contract.

Photo courtesy of True Stories of Korean Baseball

Tags: South Korea