Teams that were aiming for Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego) are looking for a replacement one after another, but the trade fire is still not extinguished.
The American media The Athletic had time to communicate with San Diego fans on the 25th (Korean time), and among them, there was a question asking whether Ha-seong Kim could be traded before the start of the 2023 season.
A fan named Jake said, “I see a lot of fans’ opinions surrounding the Kim Ha-sung trade. I can understand why people think Kim Ha-sung is an option, but I don’t think the club has felt much of a motivation to trade him yet.”
This winter, when San Diego acquired free agent Xander Bogarts, a large shortstop, Ha-seong Kim was naturally pushed to second base. In addition, there is a shortstop named Fernando Tatis Jr., and there have been many rumors that he is looking for Kim Ha-seong for the past month. 스포츠토토
Representative examples were Boston and Miami, and Kim Ha-sung’s batting average above the league average and shortstop defense that was excellent enough to be a finalist for the Gold Glove were cited as the reasons. In return, starting pitchers with ample service time were mentioned.
Contrary to rumors, the teams made a different choice. Miami acquired American League batting champion Luis Araez through a trade on the 21st of last year from Minnesota and completed reinforcements. Boston, which was the most active to the extent that the main press showed interest, also completed reinforcements by recruiting Adam Duvall on the 23rd and Adalberto Mondesi Jr. on the 25th.
The Athletic said, “San Diego did not exchange Kim Ha-seong, but there was a willingness to discuss with other teams and starting pitchers.” “The value of Kim Ha-seong may never be higher than it is now. .San Diego was able to replace Kim Ha-seong by putting Jake Cronenworth back at second base while recruiting first baseman,” he analyzed the situation.
The disappearance of the extreme shift from this year was judged to increase the value of Kim Ha-seong as a second baseman. Also, according to The Athletic, Ha-seong Kim was a favorite of his teammates and fans as he was recognized for his diligence. In other words, there is no reason for San Diego to trade too much.
However, the possibility of a third team appearing still existed. It is clear that Kim Ha-seong, who is recognized in San Diego for winning the World Series, is an attractive resource for other teams. The Athletic said, “I will not rule out the possibility of Kim Ha-sung trading before the season starts,” and said, “I want to see a 75% chance that he will still remain with San Diego before the opening game.”