Kang can earn $750,000 annually in bonuses from Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) South Korean infielder Jung Ho Kang can earn $750,000 annually in performance bonuses based on plate appearances as part of his $11 million, four-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Kang gets $2.5 million in each of the first two seasons of the deal, which was announced Friday, and his salary rises to $2.75 million in 2017 and $3 million in 2018. The Pirates have a $5.5 million team option for 2019 with a $250,000 buyout.

The 29-year-old would earn $75,000 for 475 plate appearances; $100,000 each for 500, 525 and 550; $175,000 for 575; and $200,000 for 600.

In addition, Kang can be reimbursed a maximum $50,000 annually by the Pirates for four round-trip business class tickets for his family from South Korea to the U.S., and the team will provide Kang with an interpreter at a salary of up to $60,000. He also can be reimbursed up for $5,000 a year for shipping and other costs, and the team will provide him English-language instruction.

Pittsburgh agreed to release Kang at the end of the contract, making him a free agent.