The only way is 'FA retake', Kim Ha-sung's value is $100 million → $10 million...The SD leader made a ceremonial comment

Oct 26, 2024

There is a prospect that Kim Ha-sung will choose to repeat the FA. AP Yonhap News

Kim Ha-sung is expected to attract attention from several clubs with weak shortstop, local media predict. USATODAY Yonhap News

San Diego Padres Kim Ha-sung is expected to do 'FA Retake'. The change of the agent to Scott Boras after undergoing shoulder surgery is gaining weight on the one-year contract amid the acceptance of his willingness to actively target the FA market.

Local media The Athletic predicted on the 25th (Korea time) that Kim Ha-sung would sign a contract for a year of $10 million in the corner of '2024-2025 Top 45 FA Contract and Destination Outlook'.

The media reported that "'Kim Ha-sung underwent a fine ruptured right shoulder and suture surgery after the end of this season. On August 19, against the Colorado Rockies, Mike Shildt moved Kim Ha-sung to shortstop from second base, which gave him a gold glove last year, a move that greatly upgraded the Padres' defense. However, Kim Ha-sung ended his season with a batting average of 0.233, 11 homers, and 22 steals.

The media then predicted 'a pillow contract, that is, a one-year contract, which is, a one-year contract, with incentives and award bonuses to prove that he can hit like 2023 when he recovered from his injury and posted 17 home runs and 38 steals.'

In an article ESPN predicted in August that prospective FA contracts, Kim Ha-sung was included in the list of candidates who could sign $100 million to $200 million contracts, which should be considered a significant drop in value due to shoulder surgery and poor batting performance.

Kim Ha-sung and Darvish Yu are staring somewhere at the player introduction event ahead of the first game of the wild card series. AP Yonhap News

It can be seen as virtually the same content as the 'short-term contract + opt-out' that various media recently predicted as Kim Ha-sung's contract method. It guarantees a two to three-year contract period, but gives the right to terminate the contract after one season and become an FA again. This is the contract method taken by Matt Chapman, Blake Snell and Cody Bellinger of the Boras Division last winter.

The Athletic cited San Diego, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates as the most suitable teams for Kim Ha-sung. All of them are teams with weak shortstop. In the case of Milwaukee, the transfer of Willy Adames, the largest FA shortstop, is a fact, so Kim Ha-sung can be coveted.

In the meantime, San Diego general manager AJ Preller expressed his position on his team's FA, including Kim Ha-sung, to the media.

He said "Most of our FA loved playing for San Diego. I think I talked to five or six people, but they said, 'This is the best team I've ever played for'. What does it mean? The players have said that and are interested in staying. It will be covered and reviewed in the coming weeks or months."

Xander Bogaerts must continue to play shortstop if Kim Ha-sung does not return. USATODAY Yonhap News

He then praised Kim Ha-sung. He said "Kim Ha-sung is a very capable friend. We felt on the last day of this season. It's obviously a big loss without him. "He runs with a lot of energy. He's a smart player. He is very good at defense and plays various positions. At-bat, you can walk, hit home runs, and steal bases. That's how we evaluate Kim Ha-sung. Such a player is a talented and valuable player. "I hope Kim Ha-sung stays." I think we need to find out what the FA results are going to be like in the future" he said.

When the World Series ends, the FA market opens the next day. Qualifying offers will take place for the next five days, and in the case of Kim Ha-sung, it is believed that the possibility of being presented is ambiguous. The Athletic said that `San Diego will want to stay at least two out of eight FA players, including Kim Ha-sung.'

The media then said 'Kim Ha-sung will have shoulder surgery and will not be able to return until a certain point in the first half of next year. If not injured, it could have a big impact on Kim Ha-sung's FA, which would have secured more than $100 million in contracts. 'I think Kim Ha-sung will reject the $8 million mutual option next year, then the Padres should give him a $2 million buyout. If the two sides fail to agree on a contract, the Padres will feel that they have to continue to leave the shortstop to Xander Bogaerts, who is 32 years old and in decline as a shortstop. This means that if you fail to catch Kim Ha-sung, your shortstop position will inevitably become unstable.