KBO free agent market opens; Jeon Jun-woo rejoins Lotte Giants on four-year deal

The KBO free agent market opened Sunday with 19 of 34 eligible players opting to throw their hat into the ring. Outfielder Jeon Jun-woo was the first to put pen to paper, re-signing with the Lotte Giants on Monday

Lotte Giants outfielder Jeon Jun-woo poses for a photo with General Manager Park Jun-hyuk after re-signing with the club on Monday. [YONHAP]

The KBO free agent market opened Sunday with 19 of 34 eligible players opting to throw their hat into the ring. Outfielder Jeon Jun-woo was the first to put pen to paper, re-signing with the Lotte Giants on Monday.

The KBO announced this year’s free agents on Saturday, with the 19 players divided into three groups: A, B and C.

Only the top players in the league — top three in their club and top 30 in the KBO by salary — make it into group A. Players who fall between fourth and 10th at their club and 31st and 60th in the league by salary go in B, with everybody else in C.

Three players in this year’s market fall into category A: Pitcher Ju Kwon of the KT Wiz and pitcher Hong Geun-hui and infielder Yang Suk-hwan of the Doosan Bears.

The reigning champion LG Twins have the most players in the FA market — pitchers Im Chan-kyu and Ham Deok-ju and infielders Kim Min-sung and Oh Ji-hwan — all of them falling in category B.

The Samsung Lions follow with three FAs — pitchers Kim Dae-woo and Oh Seung-hwan and infielder Kang Han-wool — all in category C.

The Bears, Wiz, Kia Tigers, Lotte Giants and Kiwoom Heroes have two free agents each.

Alongside Ju, the Wiz also have pitcher Kim Jae-yoon (B); the Tigers have infielder Kim Sun-bin (B) and outfielder Ko Jong-wook (C); the Giants have infielders An Chi-hong (B) and Jeon (B); and the Heroes have catcher Lee Ji-woung (B) and pitcher Lim Chang-min (C).

The Hanwha Eagles and SSG Landers complete the FA lineup with one each: Catcher Kim Min-sik (C) for the Landers and pitcher Jang Min-je for the Eagles (C).

The NC Dinos, who had the most free agents last year, at seven, are the only team to complete avoid this year’s market.

Jeon of the Giants became the first FA on Monday to sign a new contract, rejoining his former club on a four-year deal worth up to 4.7 billion won ($3.6 million) with 4 billion won in salary across the four years and up to 700 million won in incentives.

Jeon is a Giants veteran, player over 1,600 games for the club in a long career that started with a draft pick in 2007. He has a career .300 batting average with 196 home runs and 888 RBIs.

Despite being well into the latter half of his 30s, Jeon led the Giants with 17 home runs and 77 RBIs last season.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]