Slugger May Stay With Yomiuri: Report

Sports Hochi, a sports magazine of Yomiuri, reported that Lee Seung-yeop (age: 30), whose contract with the Yomiuri Giants ends this year, could stay with the team when the season ends. The paper said, “Lee is leaning towards staying with the team and will finalize the decision by next week.”

Lee played for Chiba Lotte for two years before making a contract worth 210 million yen, including a 500 million yen contracting fee and a 160 million yen salary. When requested by Manager Tatsunori Hara to stay with the team, Lee replied that he would make a decision soon.

The Japanese media predicted that Yomiuri would present a three-year contract worth one billion yen (approximately 8 billion won) to Lee, who hit 41 homeruns, with a batting average of 0.323, 108 RBIs, and 101 runs.

Lee Chun-gwang, Lee Seung-yeop’s father forecasted that his son will stay with the team and said, “I do not think my son is in a situation to strive to make it to the Major League Baseball, because of his knee injury.”

Lee is expected to receive surgery on his left knee on Friday.

kimsk@donga.com