'Chicken instead of a pheasant' is also worth a lot, Kim Ha-sung's 4-year, $50 million ATL trip? "Can solve the shortstop problem"
Nov 16, 2024
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Blitzer Report mentioned Kim Ha-sung on the 16th (Korea time) by putting Atlanta in third place in an article titled 「Top 10 clubs that can recruit Willie Adames from the FA market」.
Reporter Kerry Miller, who wrote the article, said 'Braves needs to do something about the shortstop problem. Orlando Arcia had the second-lowest OPS+ (73) of any shortstop this season, claiming that Atlanta, which has regretted missing Dansby Swanson for two years, will have to call Adames to the negotiating table.
Atlanta did not hold on to its flagship shortstop Dansby Swanson, who was released as an FA after the 2022 season. This is because it was worth nearly $200 million. Swanson eventually changed to a Chicago Cubs uniform on a seven-year, $177 million contract.
Orlando Arcia is the replacement for the main shortstop. He was selected as an All-Star in 2023 and filled his spot with a batting average of 0.264, 17 homers, 65 RBIs, 66 runs scored, and an OPS of 0.741, but this year he has been sluggish with a batting average of 0.218, 17 homers, 46 RBIs, 50 runs scored, and an OPS of 0.625, in 157 games. He believes that he is dissatisfied with his skills over the past two years to use Arcia as his main player during offense and defense. Arcia's three-year $7.3 million contract will end next year, with a club option at stake in 2026.
In the end, there are growing opinions inside and outside the club that Atlanta should spend a large amount of money to recruit Adames.
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Since then, Atlanta has not spent much money on the FA market. It did its best by holding young prospects on extended contracts. Ronald Acuña Jr. ($100 million for eight years), Austin Riley ($212 million for 10 years), Ajie Albies ($35 million for seven years), Michael Harris II ($72 million for eight years), Spencer Strider ($75 million for six years), and Matt Olson ($168 million for eight years) are the main players who have decided to remain in Atlanta on extended contracts for the past two to three years.
However, doubts have grown over whether Atlanta will be able to open its wallet significantly as Adames' expected contract is also expected to reach $200 million. According to local media, Adames' estimated ransom is $189 million for ESPN 7 years, $160 million for MLBTR 6 years, $150 million for The Athletic 6 years, and $180 million for 7 years for Bleacher Report.
There are about 10 clubs who want Adames, and Atlanta is not likely to win the 'money fight'.
In the event of missing Adames, Atlanta's shortstop is Kim Ha-sung. Reporter Miller said, `Given Atlanta's propensity to build a roster, we can try to solve the shortstop problem through Kim Ha-sung.'We will be able to recruit Kim Ha-sung for about $50 million for four years. He said he had a rather disappointing season with the San Diego Padres this year.
Reporter Miller predicted the first and second destinations for Adames to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
On the same day, MLB.com reported the news of Adames, saying 'Not only clubs with empty shortstop, such as Juss, Atlanta, San Francisco and the Boston Red Sox, but also a significant number of clubs who see him as a third baseman, such as the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Houston Astros, where Alex Bregman can leave, could be interested in Adames, he said.
In the end, teams that failed to recruit Adames have no choice but to look at Kim Ha-sung.
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jhno@sportschosun.com
