CARLSBAD, Calif. --- Jung Ho Kang's free agency didn't last long as the Pirates re-signed the third baseman to a one-year, $3-million contract Thursday as the General Managers Meetings came to a close at the Mesa La Costa Resort & Spa. As part of the deal, Kang can make an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses.
Kang would receive $625,000 each for 200, 300, 400 and 500 plate appearances. The contract also has a provision to allow Kang to again become a free agent following next season, though he would need have the requisite six years of major league service time to be eligible.
Kang became a free agent last week when the Pirates declined the $5.5-million club option in his contact for 2019. They instead paid the 31-year-old a $250,000 buyout.
Kang has played in just three games for the Pirates over the last two seasons because of legal problems in his native South Korea stemming from a third DUI arrest in December 2016. He was unable to secure a work visa in 2017 and was finally cleared to come to the United States this year in April, played 16 games in the minor leagues then underwent wrist surgery.
After the signing was announced, the Pirates tweeted a video of Kang talking about returning to the club.
Earlier we caught up with Jung Ho to talk about his return to the Bucs. ? pic.twitter.com/mJjt1m6UvJ
— Pirates (@Pirates) November 8, 2018
Rookie Colin Moran was the Pirates' primary third baseman last season and Kang will compete with him for playing time in spring training. There is a possibility the left-handed hitting Moran and the right-handed batting Kang could form a platoon at third.
"We appreciate Jung Ho's hard work to get back to being a productive major league player while continuing to handle himself appropriately off the field," Neal Huntington said. "We feel that bringing Jung Ho back in 2019 will make us better because he will make a positive impact on our lineup. Competition and options are important to an organization and this signing provides us with both."
The Pirates signed Kang to a four-year, $11-million contract as a free agent prior to the 2015 season after he played nine seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization.
Despite being the first native South Korean hitter to make the jump to the majors from the KBO, Kang finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting as he hit .287/.355/.461 with 15 home runs in 126 games. Overall, he has a .274/.355/.482 line and 36 homers in 242 career games.