Ha-seong Kim (San Diego Padres) is spending his third year in the Major League (MLB) this year.

In his debut year, he struggled with problems adapting to MLB pitchers, but has improved markedly since then. In particular, this year, Kim Ha-seong is performing well above the average in the big leagues in a somewhat sluggish batting. On defense, he’s been even better at winning the Golden Glove award he missed last year.

Ha-seong Kim is also the San Diego’s “built-in” first hitter. Because he has a good on-base percentage. As of August 31 (Korean time), Kim Ha-seong’s on-base percentage of the lead batter is 0 393, which is 6th overall in MLB. 4th in the National League (NL). It comes after Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves), Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers), and Luis Araez (Miami Marlins).

Some media and fans are urging Kim Ha-sung to extend his contract for such a big success.

Ha-sung Kim signed a four-year, $28 million contract with San Diego until 2024. In the fifth year, 2025, mutual options can be exercised.

The problems of Kim Ha-sung’s future move can be compressed into the following three: trade, extension contract, and free agency.

*Trade

San Diego has listened to the conditions of other teams regarding the trade of Kim Ha-sung ahead of this season. Some media also argued that Kim Ha-seong should be traded and the pitcher or first baseman should be reinforced.

However, San Diego decided to join Kim Ha-seong. Second baseman Jake Cronenworth turned to first baseman and Kim Ha-seong took second base.

Ha-seong Kim performed better than last season as a shortstop. He showed improvement in almost every offensive metric.

Then, the story of Kim Ha-sung’s trade is no longer coming out. It became a situation where I had to fiddle with the extension contract card while watching Kim Ha-sung notice. This is because it is not easy to find players who can entrust the second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman without worry.

Therefore, it seems that Kim Ha-sung’s trade issue will no longer be discussed.

San Diego fans who chant “Ha-sung Kim!”

San Diego may instead use Jake Cronenworth as a trade card.

Ahead of this season, San Diego signed a seven-year, $80 million contract extension with Cronenworth.

However, Cronenworth gave up second baseman Ha-sung Kim and took first base. Cronenworth has been sluggish this season, perhaps due to a change in defense.

San Diego looks to bolster its strong first baseman after this season. At this time, it seems that Kronenworth can be used as a trade card.

• Extended contract

is the most useful. In order to make Kim Ha-seong sit down, he must be treated according to Kim Ha-seong’s taste. San Diego is a club with a lot of barrels, so it can be enough.

Although the size of Daewoo cannot be accurately predicted, it is expected to present a total amount that far exceeds Cronenworth’s $80 million.

• FA market

If San Diego does not show any movement to extend the contract ahead of next year’s season, it is certain that Kim Ha-seong will come to the free agent market without exercising mutual options in 2025.

Of course, it is possible to sign an extension contract during the season, but from Kim Ha-seong’s point of view, he will want to decide his future before entering the season.

If San Diego does not offer an extension contract, Ha-seong Kim can negotiate with all 30 clubs, including San Diego, after the 2024 season.

As Kim Ha-seong is already evaluated as a proven infielder, he can receive ‘love calls’ from big market clubs in the FA market as well. The treatment may exceed the total amount of the extended contract.

Source: 먹튀검증