Baseball club fills foreign quota with new infielder, returning pitcher

SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants on Sunday filled their foreign player quota with a new infielder and a returning starting pitcher.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club inked infielder Andy Burns to a one-year deal worth US$650,000, which includes a $50,000 signing bonus.

Burns, 26, has played in 610 minor league games, with 55 home runs, 283 RBIs and 87 steals. He played in 10 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last year.

Burns has played the majority of his minor league games at third base but has also appeared at first base, second base, shortstop, left field and right field.

The Giants said they liked Burns' versatility and strong arm on defense, and his baserunning and contact ability on offense.

In another transaction Sunday, the Giants re-signed left-hander Brooks Raley for his third season at $850,000, up from $630,000 in 2016.

Raley went 8-10 with a 4.34 ERA in 31 appearances, covering 184 2/3 innings.

Last month, the Giants replaced pitcher Josh Lindblom with another pitcher, Parker Markel.

The KBO teams are each permitted three foreign players, at least one of whom must be a position player.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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