Burn 18.4 billion for a subbackup? Dodgers' Message in Kim Hye-sung's Contract, All-in to WS's 2nd consecutive win

Jan 04, 2025

Kim Hye-sung signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Photo Source =MLB.com

'I don't accept empty spots. We're going to lose two World Series games in a row in preparation for everything

Kim Hye-sung (26)'s destination was decided just over three hours before the posting deadline. It is the Los Angeles Dodgers, the winner of the 2024 World Series. Kim Hye-sung has a two-year option with a three-year guarantee of $12.5 million (about 18.4 billion won) with the Dodgers. If the Dodgers team executes the option, Kim Hye-sung's contract will increase to up to 22 million dollars (about 32.4 billion won) for five years (by 2029).

Shohei Otani posted a welcome message in Korean, announcing the news of the Dodgers' contract with Kim Hye-sung on his SNS. Ohtani SNS Capture

As soon as the contract was signed, Shohei Ohtani (31), the team's star and MLB's top talker, delivered a congratulatory message through SNS. Immediately after Kim's contract was announced, Ohtani posted a congratulatory message for Kim's joining on his SNS account, which included the Korean phrase `Welcome, my friend.'

They are two people who do not have much contact with each other to call them 'friends'. This is interpreted as a situation that came out because both of them belong to the same agency (CAA Sports). In fact, Ohtani reportedly persuaded Kim Hye-sung to join the Dodgers.

Kiwoom Kim Hye-sung, the second baseman's defense award, is speaking at the 2024 KBO Awards held at Lotte Hotel World on the 26th. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.11.26/

Kim Hye-sung received a better offer from the Los Angeles Angels than the Dodgers. This is what the agency CAA Sports said directly. According to local media, the conditions offered by the Los Angeles Angels to Kim Hye-sung were 5 years-28 million dollars, which was better than the Dodgers. In addition, offers were also made by the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres.

However, Kim chose the Dodgers. Ohtani's persuasion may have played a big role, but the fact that the Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 and were a strong team that maintained most of its winning power also moved Kim Hye-sung's mind. Unless something big happens, Kim Hye-sung is likely to experience the Major League postseason in his first year.

At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the Dodgers' choice of Kim Hye-sung with a guaranteed amount of $12.5 million. In fact, Kim Hye-sung's ability is different from that of the main league players in the Major League. He is a stable second baseman and can play shortstop, but he lacks experience in corner infield (1st and 3rd bases) and has been pointed out for lack of power in terms of decisive hitting.

The Dodgers are also well aware of Kim Hye-sung's characteristics. Therefore, from the beginning, Kim Hye-sung's role was nailed 'utility infielder', that is, for backup purposes. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes once told the LA Times that `Kim Hye-sung's role is utility.'

If so, it means that the Dodgers spent $12.5 million and about 18.4 billion won to catch 'backup infielder'. No matter how large the Major League club's spending is, it makes the head tilt a bit. It may be questionable whether it was a reasonable choice to spend more than $10 million on Kim Hye-sung, who is considered only a backup defense agent, who is not very aggressive.

However, if you look at the Dodgers' overall moves in the stove league, you can understand some things. It can be understood that the Dodgers prepare every aspect of the team's power thoroughly for one goal consistently pursued.

Needless to say, the Dodgers' goal is '2nd consecutive World Series title'.

The Dodgers have strengthened their power in the stove league since winning the 2024 World Series. He retained Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yamamoto Yoshinobu, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez, and recruited left-hander Blake Snell, who has won the Cy Young Award in the Stove League, for a total of $182 million (about 267.9 billion won) for five years.

On the other hand, he did not try to catch Walker, who performed 'revival throws' with 1 win and 1 save and 0 ERA in the World Series. It was a cold judgment. It was judged that Buehler's World Series battle would be only a single shot.

The fielders' strength was maintained. Ohtani, Betts and Freeman, the three key hitters with a league MVP award, are in good shape. The main infielders are first baseman Freeman, second baseman Gavin Lux, third baseman Max Muncy and shortstop Betts. It is a combination that is not lacking in any corner.

On top of that, Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas, and Tommy Edman are waiting to serve. The 40-man roster is packed with outstanding players.

There is no place for Kim Hye-sung to hit right away. MLB.COM added that the Dodgers' 40-man roster options have become richer with the addition of Kim Hye-sung. Betts and Lux are the main shortstop and second baseman, and Taylor, Rojas and Edman can also play those positions. Kim Hye-sung analyzed that it suits the role of utility because it overlaps a lot with the roles of Taylor and Rojas.

This means that Kim Hye-sung's role is a 'back-up of backup' to fill the existing main Keystone duo Betts and Lux's physical deterioration or injury variables. The $12.5 million expenditure on recruiting players for this purpose is certainly excessive.

However, it can be said that the Dodgers' sincerity toward '2nd consecutive World Series consecutive victory' is contained. It is an expression of the will not allow any gaps in the entire team position.

In fact, the Dodgers' move is attracting a lot of attention in the region. MLB.COM released season expectations for each of the 30 major league teams on the 1st. On the Dodgers here '2024 World Series winners the Dodgers will be better in 2025. He evaluated that he may have a chance to challenge 116 wins, the most in a single MLB season.

The choice of spending $12.5 million in guarantees on Kim Hye-sung is also easy to understand in this context.

In a 162-game system, the more backup plans there are, the better. This is because so many variables can occur. In this situation, it is common sense that the larger the team depth, the stronger the power to resist variables. Kim Hye-sung is definitely useful in terms of defense. Therefore, it seems to be the judgment of Dodgers leaders that it is worth spending $12.5 million in guarantees. The Dodgers have already made a drive to '2nd consecutive World Series title.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.