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Report: Multiple teams eyeing ex-MLBer, Korean star Thames

Mike Cassese / Reuters

If Eric Thames wants to return stateside, there might be a few interested suitors.

Thames, an outfielder and first baseman who last played in the majors in 2012, has spent the last three seasons with Korea's NC Dinos, where he became a superstar and put up historic numbers never before seen in the country. Now a free agent, a triumphant return to Major League Baseball appears to be on his radar, and the interest may very well be mutual.

Three teams - the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics - have reportedly expressed interest in the 30-year-old, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. It's not clear, however, if contracts have been discussed, or how serious the apparent interest in his services may be.

After hitting just .250/.296/.431 line with 21 homers over 181 big-league games from 2011-12 - followed by a forgettable minor-league season in 2013 - Thames ventured to the Korea Baseball Organization and immediately emerged as an unlikely superstar. He hit no less than 37 homers in any of his three seasons with the Dinos, posted the first 40-40 season in KBO history in 2015, and was named the 2015 KBO MVP; he also took home a Gold Glove in 2015 after moving to first base.

Though Thames didn't repeat his MVP season in 2016, he still led the KBO in home runs (40), slugging percentage (.676), and runs scored (117) to help the Dinos advance to the finals. His popularity in the country also reached new heights, to the point that his agent, Adam Karon, told Crasnick that walking the streets of Korea with Thames was "like going out with the Beatles."

Thames' versatility could play into his hand should he return to MLB, as he could split time between the corner outfield positions and first base, plus designated hitter if he ends up in the AL. At least one anonymous executive believes a return to his native country could end with Thames signing a multi-year deal.

"Look at some of the money that Cuban players have gotten," the executive said to Crasnick. "What's the difference here? I think somebody is going to bite, and he'll get a contract for two years and $12 million, or three years and $15 (million)-to-$18 million."

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