Despite a troubled 2011 season, Choo lands $4.9 million deal

Korean slugger Choo Shin-soo, despite his 2011 struggles, has received a $1 million raise from the Cleveland Indians for the upcoming season.

Choo and the Major League Baseball club agreed Tuesday to a one-year, $4.9 million deal to avoid salary arbitration, the Indians announced.

The Korean outfielder made $3.97 million last season, when he batted .259 with just eight homers and 36 RBIs, the fewest since becoming a full-time player in 2008.

Choo, who made his Major League debut in 2005 under the Seattle Mariners, moved to Cleveland in 2006 and became a regular for the Indians in 2008. 

He had his best season in 2010, batting .300 with 22 home runs and 90 RBIs, which earned him the $3.9 million salary with the Indians at the end of the season, an enormous raise from his previous $461,000 salary.

But last year, Choo managed to play only 85 games due to a series of injuries. He was also arrested in May for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Despite his troubles, Choo’s agent Scott Boras had been negotiating with the Indians for a raise and filed last week for salary arbitration for a second consecutive year.

But with the signing on Tuesday, Choo avoided going to an arbitration court.

Choo admitted that he had not expect to get a raise of $1 million.

“I had a poor season last year, so I didn’t expect much, but my agent had a different opinion,” he said.

The Indians outfielder added that he is determined to bounce back from his 2011 disappointments.

Choo, after a two-month break in Korea, recently started his off-season training at his home in Arizona.

“The contract is done. So now I can focus solely on getting my form back before the new season starts,” he said.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)