EIGHT PERCENT PAY HIKE FOR GIANTS’ LEE DAE-HO

Lee Dae-ho and the Lotte Giants have agreed on an 8 percent pay hike for the upcoming season. The Giants announced yesterday that the 28-year-old first baseman will receive 390 million won ($347,100) for the upcoming season. It is an increase of 8.3 percent from the 360 million won Lee received last season.

Lee had been holding out from team training after the Giants attempted to decrease his salary after a season in which he hit .293, with 28 home runs and 100 RBIs.

“I want to apologize to the fans and the teams for holding out from team training. As one of the leaders in the club, I will try my best to contribute to a winning season for the Giants,” Lee said.

Lotte is set to start its off-season training camp today in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, and Kagoshima, Japan. The camp runs through March 1.

AP