LG Twins back out on contract with outfielder Abraham Almonte

The LG Twins announce a one-year contract with outfielder Abraham Almonte on Dec. 5. [YONHAP]

The LG Twins reportedly pulled out of a one-year contract with outfielder Abraham Almonte just a week after signing the deal.

On Dec. 5, the LG Twins had announced a one-year contract with outfielder Almonte who was to receive $400,000 in salary, a $100,000 signing bonus, and up to $300,000 in incentives. But the Twins reportedly canceled the deal on Saturday due to problems in his physical test.

Almonte made his Major League debut in 2013 with the Seattle Mariners and has since played in the majors for the last 10 seasons with stints in seven different Major League clubs. He also spent some time in the minors with the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Yankees.

Almonte has a history of testing positive for banned drugs. In 2016 when he had been playing with the Cleveland Indians, now called the Guardians, Almonte had tested positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing drug that is classified as an anabolic steroid. Almonte was suspended for 80 games that season.

Almonte was given free agency in Oct. 15 this year. Almonte had signed a minor league deal with the Brewers in October of 2021 and was unable to play in the big leagues until the Boston Red Sox acquired him in July 25 this year. Playing 15 games with the Red Sox in September and October, he batted .291 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs.

His deal with the Twins would have led Almonte to play overseas for the first time in his professional career.

“We will continue to look for players like we did in the past,” Twins’ general manger Cha Myeong-seok reportedly said.

“It’s not an easy situation, but I want to sign a new player as fast as we can. I know that patiently waiting could be a way but I also need to consider the possibility of not being able to find a suitable hitter.”

Each KBO club is permitted to sign three foreign players, with a maximum of two foreign pitchers. In practice, most teams generally opt for the maximum two pitchers and a slugger to round out the selection. All foreign players play on one-year contracts.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]