By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter

South Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop’s bid to forge a career for himself in the Major Leagues has hit a snag with the Asian home run record holder being offered contracts below what he expected by a pair of teams.

The Samsung Lions first baseman, a free agent after this past season, met with the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday but both teams reportedly tabled deals below $1 million for a season, while the 27-year-old expected at least $1.5 million.

The Mariners also said they remained uncertain over Lee’s skill with Seattle’s vice president for player personnel Roger Jongewaard telling the Seattle Times, ``We’d probably send him to Triple-A to see if he is the real deal.’’

Lee, who hit an Asian record 56 homers this season, told reporters that he liked the Dodgers’ family-like atmosphere after meeting the team’s vice president Tommy Lasorda and general manager Don Evans with his agent John Kim.

``I feel like I’ve been here before although I am here for the first time,’’ Lee said. ``The atmosphere was much better than with the Mariners. I want to play for the Dodgers.’’

Evans also responded by saying to the Los Angeles Times, ``The Dodgers have always been pioneers internationally. We’re not afraid to take a risk. … We’re weighing the risk-reward factor.’’

The newspaper, however, quoted another club official as saying ``In no way are we diverting our attention from (Richie) Sexson and (Derrek) Lee. We see this guy in more of a subordinate role.’’

This implies that L.A. consider Lee an insurance in case their quest for a high-profile first baseman falls through. The National League team is currently chasing Sexson of the Milwaukee Brewers and Lee of the Florida Marlins.

Lee’s experience so far is in sharp contrast to that of Japanese big leaguers like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. The Mariners paid $13 million to Ichiro’s former team the Orix Blue Wave in late 2000 just for negotiating rights and signed the outfielder to a three-year deal worth $14 million.

The New York Yankees spent $21 million on a three-year deal for Matsui, who made his Major League debut this year. The left-hitting outfielder received $6 million this year and will be paid $7 million and $8 million for the next two seasons.

Keeping a close eye on Lee’s U.S. trip, Samsung Lions president Kim Jae-ha said the Korea Baseball Organization team is ready to reward Lee with a lucrative contract if he returns. ``If he fails to make it to the Majors, we will honor the best Korean hitter with a mega deal,’’ Kim told The Korea Times.

Kim refused to give more details but considering Lee’s salary for last season was 630 million won ($534,000), it is being predicted that he could make more than 5 billion won should he strike a multi-year deal.

However, Lee said he would keep chasing his Major League dream and preferred a one-year contract should he play in Korea or Japan.

Lee said he wanted to take a rest without meeting another team during the remainder of his visit. He is scheduled to return home on Nov. 27.

voc200@koreatimes.co.kr