The Athletic, a U.S. sports media outlet, explained the current situation within the San Diego club regarding the possibility of Kim Ha-sung's trade through an article on the 6th (Korea Standard Time) in which he answered questions from fans.
"San Diego turned the middle of the infield upside down when a satisfactory trade (to send Kim Ha-sung to another club) was not made," said The Athletic. "If Kim Ha-sung is traded later, he can give Xander Bogaerts the shortstop position again, but it could cause considerable confusion." "Considering this background, the possibility of Kim Ha-sung's contract extension has increased from a few weeks ago."
Since his debut with the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League in 2014, Kim has emerged as a shortstop representing Korean baseball. He recorded a total of 891 games, batting average of 0.294, 940 hits, 133 home runs, 575 RBIs and 134 steals during the seven seasons until 2020.
He joined the club with 20 homers and 20 steals in the 2016 season, and posted a batting average of .300 and triple-digit RBIs (114) in the 2017 season for the first time in his career. He exceeded his limits once again in the 2020 season by posting a batting average of .306, 30 homers, 23 steals and 109 RBIs. He became the third shortstop in the history of the KBO League to score 30 homers in a single season.
Ahead of the 2021 season, Kim Ha-sung knocked on the door of the Major League through the posting system. By signing a four-year contract worth 28 million U.S. dollars with the San Diego Padres, he has achieved his dream of moving to the big league.
Kim's early days in the Major League were not easy. Not only shortstops but also second and third basemen boasted tight defense, but they had difficulties in hitting. He had a batting average of 0.202 (54 hits in 267 times at bat) in 117 games, eight homers, 34 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.622, which did not meet expectations.
However, Kim quickly adapted to the Major League level. He became the starting shortstop in the 2022 season when he was in his second year in the big league. With a batting average of 0.251 (130 hits in 517 at bat), he recorded 11 homers, 51 RBIs, and 12 steals in 150 games with an OPS of 0.708.
Kim Ha-sung moved his position from shortstop to second base in line with the team's policy ahead of the 2023 season. It was because the San Diego Padres acquired shortstop Xander Bogaerts with a massive contract worth 280 million U.S. dollars.
For this reason, Kim Ha-sung constantly raised the possibility of a trade to a club that needs to strengthen shortstop ahead of the 2023 season. It is the third year of the big league amid concerns that its position in the team will weaken.
However, Kim Ha-sung broke his career high for the 2023 season. He hit 0.260 (140 hits in 538 at-bats) with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs and 38 steals with an OPS of 0.749, boasting the best performance of any infielder in the Major League.
Although his performance fell at the last minute amid deteriorating physical stamina in the second half of the year following his participation in the World Baseball Classic, he became the first Asian infielder to embrace golden gloves in the Major League when he won the National League Gold Glove Utility Player category.
At a time when San Diego failed to advance to the postseason with 82-80 wins in the 2023 season, Kim Ha-sung's performance was a great comfort. Manager Mike Shildt, who has taken the helm of the San Diego Padres since this season, praised Kim Ha-sung's defense and sent him back to shortstop. Xander Bogaerts will move to the second base after being defeated by Kim Ha-sung.
"Kim Ha-sung occupies a huge proportion in San Diego," San Diego general manager A.J. Preller said in an interview with U.S. media including MLB.COM, the official major league website, on the 14th of last month. "In order for our team to perform well, Kim Ha-sung must be in the center of the green diamond."
"We won't disclose the details, but we informed Kim Ha-sung that we "believe it" and Kim Ha-sung also understood it," Preller said, leaving open the possibility of an extension contract, saying, "What will happen over the next few months will be decided between us, Kim Ha-sung and his agent."
San Diego sent slugger Juan Soto, who hit .275 with 156 hits, 35 homers, 109 RBIs, 12 steals and an OPS 0.930 last year, to the New York Yankees through a trade in the aftermath of his recent financial deterioration.
He also failed to catch Josh Hader, the closing pitcher of the five-year Major League Baseball. Hader transferred to the Houston Astros for a total of 95 million U.S. dollars, the highest amount of FA in the history of Major League Baseball.
Under the current circumstances, it is difficult to guarantee that San Diego will be able to play with Kim Ha-sung in the 2025 season. Although Kim Ha-sung can extend his contract by one year through the 2025 season by mutual agreement with San Diego's club, there is little possibility that Kim Ha-sung will postpone the exercise of FA rights by one year.
In order for the San Diego Padres to secure Kim Ha-sung, they must present the size of the contract that matches the market value. Given that the ransom of shortstop with both offense and defense has been soaring in the Major League recently, Kim Ha-sung is expected to sign a contract worth at least 100 million U.S. dollars.
On top of that, Kim Ha-sung is expected to completely surpass the seven-year, $130 million (about 174.6 billion won) contract that Choo Shin-soo, the "Choo Choo Train," signed with the Texas Rangers after the end of the 2012 season.
"The Athletic" also predicted in February, "If San Diego signs an extension contract with Kim Ha-sung, it will have a seven-year contract period of $130 million (about 117.1 billion won) to $150 million (about 18.2 billion won)."
Kim Ha-seong is also preparing well for the opening of the regular season league in 2024. Since the opening of the exhibition games, he has displayed stellar performance as a shortstop with a batting average of 0.400 (six hits in 15 times at bat) with one homer, three RBIs and two steals, and an OPS of 1.259.
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