143.6 billion → 201 billion plunge is too cheap...Kim Ha-sung is the perfect Dodgers player. Should I play with Ohtani
Dec 19, 2024
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The U.S. media 'Blitzer Report' selected the Dodgers, this year's World Series winner, as the most suitable destination for FA infielder Kim Ha-sung (29) on the 18th (Korea time). Kim Ha-sung ranked 10 clubs suitable for destinations, followed by the No. 1 Dodgers, No. 2 Detroit Tigers, No. 3 Seattle Mariners. The New York Yankees, the richest club in need of reinforcement of infielders, ranked fifth, while Kim Ha-sung's original team, San Diego, ranked eighth.
In the past, the Dodgers became a popular team in Korea with Korean major leaguers Park Chan-ho (1994-2001), Choi Hee-seop (2004-2005), Seo Jae-eung (2006), and Ryu Hyun-jin (2013-2019), and before this season, they raised their stock prices by recruiting superstar Shohei Ohtani (30) as a combined pitching and hitting for a total of 700 million dollars (about 1.61 trillion won) over 10 years.
Bleacher Report has picked the Dodgers as a leading destination for Kim Ha-sung since the FA market opened. Last month, he predicted that `Kim Ha-sung will sign a short-term contract of $14 million (about KRW 201 billion) for a year with the Dodgers.' Kim Ha-sung is considered a big fish for FA shortstop and was once valued at 100 million dollars (about 143.6 billion won), but his ransom plummeted due to a serious shoulder injury at the end of the season. Recently, the U.S. sports media 'The Athletic' predicted the size of Kim Ha-sung's contract at $36 million (about 51.7 billion won) for two years.
The U.S. media expects Kim Ha-sung to use a strategy to seek FA re-entry a year later as he pursues a short-term contract or a contract that includes an opt-out. It is a strategy often used by Kim Ha-sung's agent Scott Boras to raise the value of the player even a little more.
Bleacher Report will be a painful contract for San Diego fans, but (Kim Ha-sung's trip to the Dodgers) is a very meaningful story. Mookie Betts is expected to play one of the Keystone Combi in the 2025 season, but Miguel Rojas and Gavin Lux are the only options to fill the remaining spot once they have settled on using Tommy Edman as a center-field utility. Max Muncy will remain third baseman, but he will turn 35 next summer and has played only 73 games in this year's regular season,' he said, explaining why infield reinforcement is necessary.
The reason why Kim Ha-sung is the right person is simple. This is because it is a super utility that can include second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman. Kim Ha-sung boasts the best defense in the big leagues, being the final candidate for the Gold Glove in the shortstop category in 2022, and winning the Gold Glove (utility category) for the first time as an Asian infielder last year. The result is different from the player who unintentionally became a utility due to his ambiguous position. Kim Ha-sung has excellent defense in all positions and has a utility use.
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The Yankees, who have recently been eager to strengthen their power, are also a destination to look forward to. The Yankees, who lost the FA's biggest fish Juan Soto to the New York Mets, started the game on the 18th by acquiring former MVP Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.
The Bleacher Report is 'Kim Ha-sung can play as a third baseman if Jazz Chisom Jr. plays as a second baseman in the Yankees, and if Chisom Jr. plays as a third baseman, Kim Ha-sung can play as a second baseman. If Chisom Jr. is used as an outfielder, both second and third basemen have opportunities for Kim Ha-sung. The Yankees currently have quite a hole in the lineup and will try to recruit any fielders from the FA market. Kim Ha-sung is no exception.
Kim Ha-sung entered the Major League through the posting system, signing a four-year, $28 million contract with San Diego ahead of the 2021 season. The first year was quite difficult, hitting the high wall of Fernando Tatis Jr., who was the main shortstop, and struggling to adapt at-bats. Later, Kim Ha-sung confessed that he had circular hair loss when he had difficulty adapting to the big league.
Kim Ha-sung, who has been the main player since 2022, has grown into the most beloved player, with San Diego fans calling his name the loudest every game. His overall performance in the four seasons of the Major League is 540 games, a batting average of 0.242 (418 hits in 1725 at-bats), 47 homers, 78 steals, 200 RBIs, 229 runs, and an OPS of 0.706.
Kim Ha-sung has fully demonstrated his worth over the past four years in the U.S., and came to the market for the first time to be evaluated. As the U.S. media predicted, will he be able to share the same team with Ohtani while pursuing a short-term contract with the Dodgers.
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rina1130@sportschosun.com
