Kim Ha-sung 'FA Top 10' is on, the prospect of $100 million is still valid...'Excellent Defensive, Threatening Base Learning'

Nov 04, 2024

Kim Ha-sung was evaluated as the 'top 10' for the first time in the FA rankings released by local leading media after the end of the World Series. AP Yonhap News

Kim Ha-sung is expected to be highly evaluated in the FA market for his excellent defense and mobility. AFP Yonhap News

Kim Ha-sung draws attention with his evaluation of Top 10 for the first time in the FA ranking.

NBC Sports ranked Kim Ha-sung 9th in a corner titled 'MLB FA Rankings Top 20: Overall' on the 4th (Korea Standard Time).

It is the highest ranking among local media's FA rankings so far since the World Series, which ended with the LA Dodgers' victory. Earlier, MLB.com ranked 17th, FOX Sports ranked 20th, and The Athletic ranked 27th. The media is the first in the top 10.

NBC reported 'Kim Ha-sung had surgery for a shoulder injury and ended the season early, but he is a top-class middle infielder trying to test the market for a multi-year contract. He has excellent defense as a shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman. In addition, base learning such as 38 steals last year and 22 steals this year is also threatening.

Earlier, San Diego on the 3rd "Kim Ha-sung gave up the $8 million mutual option next year. We'll pay you $2 million in buyouts" he announced. The four-year contract of $28 million in guarantees has officially expired.

Now Kim Ha-sung is free to negotiate with 30 clubs. The overall evaluation of Kim Ha-sung is positive for his solid defense and average level of offense, but it is negative in that it is not clear when he will return next year after undergoing shoulder surgery.

FA 김하성. ImagesYonhap News

It is worth being in the top 10 if you focus on your defensive skills over the past four years, including Gold Glove, but it is also true that you are rated around 20th as your offense has declined significantly and you have been injured this year. In fact, Kim Ha-sung was consistently listed in the top 10 in the preliminary FA rankings before this season. If we ended the season properly and healthily, we could have guaranteed a contract worth more than $100 million.

However, there is no media that believes that Kim Ha-sung's market demand has fallen. The fact that he changed his agent to Scott Boras after the season seems to have something to do with this. Boras Corporation may have first detected that multiple clubs are showing interest.

MLB.com said, "'Kim Ha-sung missed the last six weeks of this season because of a shoulder injury. In the end, he underwent surgery, but Kim Ha-sung, who shines on the Gold Glove in 2023, is worth second place in shortstop this offseason, and if the shoulder issue is solved, there will be quite a few clubs he wants. At the same time, the media added that `Kim Ha-sung, who is 29 years old this year, has decent bat skills and elite defense, so he is likely to sign a multi-year contract.'

In particular, AJ Preller, the general manager of the original San Diego team, said of Kim Ha-sung in a season settlement interview after the division series elimination, `He is a really talented and necessary player. From our point of view, we would like to bring it back. We will review it from various angles when we go into the offseason."

However, it is unlikely that San Diego will offer a qualifying offer (QO) to Kim Ha-sung. It's because of the question mark about health. This year's QO is $21.05 million, the highest ever. In other words, Kim Ha-sung's one-year value is not that much. If San Diego offers a QO, Kim Ha-sung is likely to accept it.

Kim Ha-sung is unlikely to receive a qualifying offer from San Diego. AFP Yonhap News

However, even if Kim Ha-sung is not presented with a QO, there is no burden of draft nomination rights, so the demand for Kim Ha-sung can be thicker, and it can be seen as advantageous for a pretty thick multi-year contract. MLB.com listed the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox as suitable clubs for Kim Ha-sung.

Meanwhile, NBC Sports listed the FA rankings top 10 in the order of Juan Soto, Corbin Burns, Alex Bregman, Gerrit Cole, Blace Snell, Max Fried, Willy Adames, Pete Alonso, Kim Ha-sung and Teoscar Hernandez. As for Soto, who ranks first in all media, he said, "'Soto, who reached the age of 26 last week, has achieved achievements such as four-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, two-time MVP top-three, batting king, and a World Series win.' There is little disagreement that he is the best hitter in existence, and he has just entered his prime. We expect him to get a contract worth $650 million, and he has all the qualifications.

jhno@sportschosun.com