'My Way'Kim Ha-sung, it's hard for SD to give 85 billion won for 5 years...Mutual Option Abandonment → FA Tour Procedures

Oct 14, 2024

Kim Ha-sung is likely to receive intensive suggestions from clubs in need of infielders in the FA market. AP Yonhap News

If Kim Ha-sung is confident that he will return healthy next season, a huge FA jackpot is expected. USATODAY Yonhap News

While the San Diego Padres entered the offseason after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division series and being eliminated, there are a series of predictions that Kim Ha-sung will go 'My Way'.

San Diego and Kim Ha-sung's four-year, $28 million contract has ended. There is a $7 million mutual option at stake next year (some media see $8 million), but it is highly likely that Kim Ha-sung will reject it. Kim Ha-sung recently signed with Boras Corporation. It is interpreted as an intention to work in the FA market with superagent Scott Boras.

It is not yet clear whether Kim Ha-sung will be able to return healthy next year after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder on the 11th (Korea time). In response, the San Diego Union-Tribune, a leading local media outlet, said that `Kim Ha-sung is aiming to return from mid-April to early May next year,' raising positive expectations that his market value will be formidable.

Sports Illustrated on the 14th 'Kim Ha-sung has been out for the past two months due to a shoulder injury and has not been seen in the division series that lost to LA. Now, he will reject the $7 million mutual option next year and become an FA' Kim Ha-sung struggled this year, but he is one of the leading hitters in the major leagues. I'm not a power heater, but I'm pretty good at hitting the ball. He evaluated that the range of defense and strength of the shoulders are at the top-class level and have a threatening main force capable of 30 steals.

He also predicted that clubs that need shortstop or second baseman, such as the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants, will be able to present conditions with a bundle of money to Kim Ha-sung. In the end, he will not renew his contract with San Diego.

There are a series of predictions that Kim Ha-sung will break up with his San Diego colleagues. AFP Yonhap News

In response, another media outlet, Sporting News, said 'The Padres need to prepare well for the 2025 season, but some of their core powers can escape. Kim Ha-sung has been the mainstay of the team for the past four years and has been frequently embroiled in trade rumorsAnalysts say that he will be treated well this winter and has a market value of at least $63 million (about 85 billion won) for five years. There will be clubs who have proposed such conditions. "You can see the infield position, you've got the gold glove, you've got a consistent offense'

Another reason why it is expected that Kim Ha-sung will leave San Diego is that Xander Bogaerts has returned to shortstop. Bogaerts signed an 11-year, $280 million FA contract at the end of 2022 and wore a San Diego uniform. As he came, Kim Ha-sung, a built-in shortstop, moved to second base. However, San Diego moved Kim Ha-sung back to shortstop in the name of increasing the efficiency of its infield defense this season and entrusted Bogaerts to second base. It goes without saying that there was a persuasion work for Bogaerts.

However, when Kim Ha-sung suffered a shoulder injury and was absent for a long time in mid-August, Bogaerts was returned to shortstop, and Jake Cronenworth also moved to his original position, second baseman.

SI predicted that `San Diego will want to keep Kim Ha-sung, but the Bogaerts-Cronenworth Keystone combination provides sufficient productivity in the infield and high-quality prospects are also preparing, so the reason for renewing the contract with Kim Ha-sung is not big.'

In the meantime, attention is also being paid to whether Kim Ha-sung will be presented with a qualifying offer (QO) if he chooses the FA.

This year's QO is $21.05 million, the highest ever. San Diego can be rewarded with a draft pick if it presents a QO to Kim Ha-sung, but if Kim Ha-sung accepts it, he has to spend a salary that is no small. I have time to think about the next three weeks or so because I have to present a QO within five days after the end of the World Series.

From Kim Ha-sung's point of view, even if he is not presented with a QO, he can sit at the FA negotiation table with the advantage that there is no burden of compensation for the nomination rights. As widespread market demand for Gold Glove infielders is expected, there is no reason to be nervous about whether to present QO or not.

jhno@sportschosun.com