"Kim Jae-ho completed his salary contract on the 8th. He will be paid 300 million won per year for the 2024 season," said an official from the Doosan Bears' first spring camp site at Blacktown International Sports Park in Sydney, Australia on the 9th.
Kim Jae-ho, who received 500 million won (465,800 U.S. dollars) in annual salary last season, signed a contract for the 2024 season with 300 million won (365,800 dollars) cut by 40 percent. Kim will depart for Miyakojima, Japan, where he will train in the Futures League, on May 12, and will slowly improve his physical condition.
Doosan announced on the 2nd that the Futures League team will leave the Miyakojima Spring Camp in Japan and said, "Inner Kim Jae-ho will continue negotiations later as an unpaid salary."
Doosan has classified Kim Jae-ho, who is rejuvenated last year, as a candidate for the 2024 season, and held salary negotiations. "Kim Jae-ho is a veteran, so we decided to let him join the team's second-tier camp," said Lee Seung-yeop, adding, "Kim Jae-ho will join the team's shortstop plan for the new season. In fact, the goal is to gradually increase his pace with younger players, rather than the team's camp. We are fully aware of Kim's capabilities."
However, Doosan and Kim failed to narrow their differences until Feb. 2, when they were the starting point for joining the second-tier camp. Doosan has concluded salary negotiations with all contractors except Kim, but failed to announce the new season's salary contract due to one Kim.
Kim Jae-ho, who signed his second FA contract with Doosan in January 2021 for three years and 2.5 billion won. The first two years were below expectations. He suffered from controversy over "eat and run" as he was sluggish with a batting average of 201.5 in 102 games, following a batting average of 209 in his first year of renewal. He suffered a slump with a batting average of 212 for two years, more than half of his contract period, saving the pride of a genius shortstop.
Kim worked harder for the 2023 season, which could be the end of his career. He started at the Australian spring camp. He stood in the first line shouting "fighting" during warmups, and did not spare his body as young prodigy shortstop did in the past. It was Kim who sweated heavily to change the booing over the past two years into applause.
If it were Jisung, he would have been completely cut off. Kim Jae-ho led Doosan to return to the fall stage for the first time in two years by rejuvenating his batting average of 283 with three homers and 29 RBIs in 91 games last year. Even at the age of 38 when he is about to retire, he showed off stable defense and rusty contact capability, ranking third in his team's batting average after Yang Eui-ji (batting average of 3.5 percent) and Jung Soo-bin (287 percent). His performance is comparable to that of 2018 when he marked his career high (batting average of 311 and 16 homers).
Given his record of the first two years after signing the FA contract, Kim seemed highly likely to retire after the end of the 2023 season. Kim also hinted at the closing of his junior Oh Jae-won's retirement ceremony, saying, "I don't have much time left either." However, he has rebounded in the final year of his contract and achieved his dream of extending his active career. Shortstop rookies such as Ahn Jae-seok, Lee Yoo-chan, Jeon Min-jae, and Park Gye-beom have repeatedly sought his position, but none of them was second only to Kim.
Kim turned 39 this year, but he is still in charge of the core part of Doosan's shortstop plan. Ahn Jae-seok, who received attention as a post-Kim Jae-ho player, chose to join the military last month, and was assigned the task of finding another successor. "I will hear good news soon. I know all the skills and capabilities of Kim Jae-ho. He is a player that our team needs this year as well," the coach said in Sydney, waiting for the signing of the genius shortstop.
Doosan has completed contracts with all 61 people who are eligible for salary renewal in 2024, including Kim Jae-ho.
Pitcher Kim Myung-shin posted the highest increase in his team, up 80 million won from 145 million won to 225 million won. Kim played a key role in the bullpen last year, recording 3 wins, 3 losses, 1 save, and an ERA of 3.65 24 holds in 70 games.
Kwak Bin, a native ace, signed 210 million won (164,000 U.S. dollars) and Jeong Cheol-won 165 million won (162,000 dollars). Choi reached his first annual salary of 100 million won (162,000 dollars) since his debut with 102 million won (162,000 dollars). Kim Dong-ju signed a contract with 55 million won (56,000 dollars), up 24 million won (26,000 dollars) and posted the highest increase rate (77.4 percent).