Yomiuri Giants slugger Lee Seung Yeop, who has ambitions of playing in the major leagues, is expected to remain with the Central League club for at least another year, sources close to him said Wednesday.
Lee has an option to sign a new deal that would give him an opportunity to pursue a career in the majors in the future, the sources said, adding it is also possible that the 30-year-old first baseman will sign a multiyear contract with Yomiuri.
The Giants have put Lee at the center of their plans for the next season and is believed to be ready to offer a hefty raise in his annual salary from an estimated 160 million yen for this year.
The South Korean occupied the cleanup spot in the Giants' lineup in his first season since moving from the Chiba Lotte Marines and has team-highs of 41 homers, 108 RBIs, 169 hits and a .323 batting average.
Lee played for Lotte for two seasons after turning down an offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers due to the difference over financial terms after the 2003 season, when he hit 56 homers for the Samsung Lions in South Korea.