Sadaharu Oh and Alex Rodriguez). In the 2006 season, he batted .323 with 41 homers. On 3 August 2006, a report on MLB Radio on XM satellite radio stated that the New York Yankees and Lee had agreed to start negotiations during the offseason after the 2006 regular season. The South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo had reported on July 19 that the Yankees had expressed interest in the slugger. After the conclusion of the 2006 season, Lee re-signed with the Yomiuri Giants, citing that he wishes to win a Japan Series with the team. However, a clause allowed him to be a free agent if the Giants won the series. After being released by the Giants at the end of the 2010 season, Lee joined the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Pacific League in December 2010. On 5 December 2011, Lee rejoined his former team Samsung Lions, signing a one-year deal. He played with the Lions until his retirement at age 41 at the end of the 2017 season. Despite his age, Lee hit 143 home runs between 2012 and 2017. In his retirement game against the Nexen Heroes in October 2017, he hit two home runs. 2008 Summer Olympics Lee played for the South Korean national team in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Slowed down by an injury to his left thumb, Lee struggled in the preliminary rounds, limited to 3-for-22 (.136) with two runs batted in and no home runs, before coming alive in the medal round games against Japan and Cuba. In the semifinal game against Japan, Lee hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning off reliever Hitoki Iwase, which proved to be the winning runs in Korea's 6–2 win. In the gold medal game against Cuba, Lee hit a two-run home run in the first inning off Cuban starter Norberto González to help Korea defeat Cuba and win the gold medal. Career statistics Career statistics in KBO League Career statistics in NPB Filmography Television shows Awards and nominations References External links Career statistics and player information from Korea Baseball Organization South Korea's Lee could be bound for majors Lee Seung-yeop baseball cards at Korean Cardboard 1976 births Living people Sportspeople from Daegu 2006 World Baseball Classic players 2013 World Baseball Classic players Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea Asian Games medalists in baseball Baseball players at the 2000