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LG Twins re-sign Austin Dean on one-year, $1.3-million contract

Published: 17 Nov. 2023, 13:46

JIM BULLEY
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Austin Dean rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the KT Wiz during Game 3 of the Korean Series at Suwon KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Nov. 10. [YONHAP]

The LG Twins have re-signed infielder Austin Dean on a one-year deal worth up to $1.3 million.

The 30-year-old KBO sophomore will earn $800,000 in guaranteed salary with $200,000 in incentives and a $300,000 signing bonus.

Dean joined the Twins last season on a $700,000 and went on to enjoy a very productive year at the plate. He batted .313 across the season with 163 hits, 98 RBIs and 23 home runs, landing in the league top 10 in all four categories.

In the Korean Series, where the Twins snapped a 29-year drought by beating the KT Wiz 4-1, Dean batted .350 with five RBIs and a homer.

Dean is the second foreign player to sign a new contract during the offseason, after Lotte Giants pitcher Aaron Wilkerson.

Foreign players in the KBO can only be signed to one-year contracts, with each club allowed to sign up to three players. At least one of those has to be a position player, so teams nearly always sign two foreign pitchers and a slugger, although there has be a shift toward a wider range of non-pitching roles in recent years.

Foreign player salaries are capped at $1 million in the first year, but can be increased beyond that threshold if a player is re-signed by the same club.

BY JIM BULLEY [[email protected]]