Ha-Seong Kim, the 5-foot-9 infielder from Bucheon-Si, South Korea, has been linked to the Dodgers, the Yankees, and the Detroit Tigers. He’s a versatile infielder who can spark the crowd, as shown in his tenure with the Padres since 2020 when he came over from the Kiwoom Heroes.
Several people have predicted Kim to sign a five-year deal worth 60 million dollars. But that’s just an estimate. I think that’s a bargain, an underpay, as Kim is worth more than $60 million due to his versatility. He had injury problems last season, but what player doesn’t ever experience an off-year because of injuries? Hardly any. That’s just the story of a baseball player. You play 162 games plus the playoffs. That’s a lot of baseball, especially for a sport with multiple things that can cause a bruise or two, a concussion or two, a broken bone or two, a fractured bone or two, and, in Ha-Seong’s case, a torn labrum. This player was among the best in defensive WAR in 2023 until an injury-plagued 2024. He’s only 29 years old. He’s in his prime, and 2023 isn't even that far away. It wasn't even two years ago. This is why I think Ha-Seong Kim is more than a bargain. He hasn’t reached his apex.
2023 tells me that he is more than capable of being in the top ten in defensive metrics; a Gold Glove versatile player who is capable of hitting .260 and stealing over 38 bases. Whoever signs him now is getting a 40 million dollar discount, as his actual value is, in my estimation, over 100 million, at least.
Simply put, his underrated value stems from his lack of superstar status compared to some of his teammates. He even surpassed Juan Soto in WAR when Soto was with the Padres. In terms of overall value, he surpassed him in Wins Above Replacement, a guy who just signed a 765 million dollar deal with the Mets. If a guy who signed for 765 million, who he bested in that key metric, how could he, the guy who outperformed him, not be worth at least 100 million? With Kim, you are getting a gold glove infielder who can field second and short. He can also run, which adds value to his game.
The Yankees should be scrambling right now, as a Gold Glover who even bested the player who left, Juan Soto, is readily available. This is their opportunity to expand into the Korean market, which hasn’t been explored quite yet surprisingly. They had Japanese superstars like Matsui and Tanaka, but never a Korean star who could help them amp up their defense in this fashion and add speed and versatility to their game. He’s a crowd-pleaser, so if they market him well to Korean fans, he can also bring in endorsements and sponsorships for the team. And, as a Yankee, they can do that.
Yankees.
ReplyDelete