Kim Ha-sung rejected the mutual option with the San Diego Padres and went to the FA market because he had his own strategy.
In addition, when Kim Ha-sung replaced his agent with Scott Boras just before the mutual option was rejected, local media showed great interest in Boras’ FA strategy, making various observations.
Observers have one thing in common, however. They wonder what it would have been like if Kim Ha-sung had finished his fourth season in San Diego this year in good health. All of them seem to be regretful, believing that a contract worth more than 100 million dollars for more than five years would have been easy.
Willy Adames is the biggest shortstop in the FA market. He played in 161 games for the Milwaukee Brewers this season and recorded a batting average of 0.251 (153 hits in 610 at-bats), 32 homers, 112 RBIs, 93 points, 21 steals, and an OPS of 0.794. He displayed career highs in almost all categories including home runs, RBIs, runs, hits, and stolen bases.
On the projected contract size, ESPN offered $189 million for seven years, MLBTR offered $160 million for six years, FanGraphs offered $145 million for five years, Bleacher Report for seven years, and The Athletic for six years. It is considered to be one of the highest level among shortstop free agents in history.
If Kim Ha-sung had not been injured in his shoulder and had only surgery, he would have boasted market value as much as Adames. Even if Kim Ha-sung’s batting power is lower than Adames, there is nothing to lose. In particular, defense and base running have been evaluated as having the best skills in the Major League.
For this reason, there is a prospect that Kim Ha-sung may hit an unexpected jackpot.
MLB.com mentioned Kim Ha-sung for the third time after starting pitchers Shane Bieber and Walker Buehler in an article titled “Five FA Better Than You Think” on the 18th (Korea Standard Time).
Reporter Andrew Simon, who wrote the article, presupposed, “Kim Ha-sung has two problems that hinder him from getting a big contract this winter,” and said, “First of all, the most important thing is that he ruptured his right shoulder’s wavelength in August, ending the 토토사이트 season early and undergoing surgery. This allows him to return after the opening game of next season.”
Kim Ha-sung received a suture surgery on the right shoulder at the guide of Dr. Neil Elatrice in Los Angeles on Oct. 11. The rehabilitation process will take at least six months, which will enable him to return after mid-April next year at the earliest. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to regain his skills through offense and defense even if he returns. For this reason, it is difficult to sign a jackpot contract.
“Secondly, we lack the firepower to attack big time. During the four seasons of the Padres, he only posted a batting average of 0.242 and a slugging percentage of 0.380, pointing out that he is not a power heater.
However, it also introduced clear and differentiated strengths that contrast with shortcomings.
Reporter Simon said, “Nevertheless, Kim Ha-sung’s value is high because he has the opposite characteristics of FA such as Pete Alonso. Kim Ha-sung does not hit by splitting the ball like Alonso, but he provides excellent defense while watching premium positions (strikes) and has excellent base learning,” adding, “He has the ability to handle bats, so he floats the ball enough to hit double-digit home runs, and he knows how to balance patience and contact ability.”
In conclusion, “If these points are combined, Kim Ha-sung showed the productivity of the top 20 in the bWAR category for 2022-2023 and two years. There is not much difference from Juan Soto,” he said. Kim Ha-sung marked a bWAR of 4.9 in 2022 and 5.8 in 2023, and Soto marked a bWAR of 5.5 for the second consecutive year. Since Kim Ha-sung recorded 10.7 and Soto 11.0 in two years, the difference is not big.
However, reporter Simon said, “Even if we sign a long-term contract, we will not be able to approach the level that power heater Adames receives in terms of total amount. However, it would not be surprising if healthy Kim Ha-sung showed a similar level of performance to Adames.”
In the end, there is room for him to regain his health and revive his offense.