Former MLB All-Star Shin-Soo Choo re-signs with SSG Landers

Shin-Soo Choo re-signed with the SSG Landers of the KBO for 2022, per Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News. The deal is worth 2.7 billion won, or around 2.3M in U.S. dollars, just a hair below what he made in 2021.

After 16 consecutive seasons in MLB, Choo signed a one-year deal to return to his native South Korea for the 2021 season. At the time, Choo said he had larger offers to stay in North America but turned them down because he wanted to play in front of his family.

It had been rumored last week that the 39-year-old was planning on making a return to the majors, though that was later contradicted by a report that Choo was either going to retire or return to KBO for one more year. It seems he has taken the latter option and will play at least one more season. It may not be a full season, however, as Yoo’s report of the signing notes that Choo has recently undergone elbow surgery and isn’t guaranteed to be ready by spring training 2022.

Choo played 136 games for the Landers in 2021, hitting .263/.409/.450, with 21 home runs and 25 stolen bases.