Kim Ha-sung (30) is still highly valuable in the market. The problem is injury and money. While his confidence has faded due to his injury to the operating table, it is still not easy to make a hasty decision on recruitment due to his high value.메이저놀이터

The U.S. baseball statistics site FanGraphs said on the 23rd (Korea Standard Time) that the teams that might want him and their specific reasons under the title "Kim Ha-sung's Expected Destination."

"For the past four years, Kim Ha-sung has been at second base, shortstop, and third base, and has never rated him below average anywhere in DRS or FRV (defensive indicator)," the media said. "It took him a year to adapt to the offense after coming from KBO in 2021, but he has recorded 106 wRC+ (adjusted scoring ability) over the past three seasons. It is 13th among shortstop, and his 10.5 WAR (contribution to victory over substitute) over the same period is 11th."

For this reason, Kim Ha-sung was selected as ninth among the top 50 free agents (FA) selected by FanGraph.COM and expected a four-year or five-year contract with an average annual salary of $19 million (27.3 billion won).

The fact that it is difficult to pinpoint the exact timing of his return due to his shoulder injury has become a negative factor. "We could lose half of the 2025 season," the media said. "We need a solid infielder, but we need to sign a team that is not in a hurry. In addition, it is a concern for Kim Ha-sung. His shoulder strength is an important part of his overall value."

The media also suggested the possibility of a two-year contract that includes an opt-out, saying, "That's not surprising that Kim Ha-sung signs a short-term contract."

Nevertheless, there are still many teams that need Kim Ha-sung. The media divided it into shortstop and second baseman, citing Kim Ha-sung's expected destination and specific reasons.

The most suitable shortstop was the Detroit Tigers. "If Kim Ha-sung is going to stay as a shortstop, Detroit is the most suitable team," the media said. "Kim Ha-sung is a significant upgrade from the previous three players who played shortstop."

"In December, Evan Petzold said in a podcast that Detroit was interested in Kim Ha-sung," he said. "That was before signing a one-year contract with Gleyber Torres. Torres has become a key player, so recruiting Kim Ha-sung as a shortstop will be a big benefit for the Tigers, who are on the rise."

The question is whether shortstop reinforcement is key for Detroit. "For example, Alex Bregman is linked to third base reinforcement because of his relationship with A.J. Hinch," the media reported, but there could be some budgetary constraints. In this regard, Kim could be the right candidate. "Kim Ha-sung won't require too much money or long-term commitment from them, and he's an option that can be better than what they have as shortstop right now. If prospect Jace Chung isn't ready to start, he could be a substitute for third base. In addition, if Torres leaves for the FA after this season, he could be at second base for years to come."

However, at the end, he added, "Kim Ha-sung is very good for Detroit, but this organization has enough other options in the infield to prevent this combination from happening."

There are many clubs that need Kim Ha-sung as a second baseman. Two of them are the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants.

The media outlet said, "The Yankees are very suitable for Kim Ha-sung. Our current depth chart is that the Yankees are expected to post a WAR of 3.4 at second base, which is not enough for a team looking to win again," adding, "With Kim Ha-sung, Jazz Chisom Jr. can return to third base, which he did quite well last season despite having no previous experience at the position and D.J. Lemiehue Oswaldo Cabrera will stay in that position until Kim Ha-sung is healthy. The Yankees are $19 million short of their 2024 salary, so they have enough room to recruit Kim Ha-sung without exceeding last year's spending."

The San Francisco Giants are also one of the teams that still need to recruit Kim Ha-sung. "They know that Torres was known to have wanted to recruit him before signing with Detroit, so they're looking for help at second base, and the 2025 salary is $25 million lower than 2024," he said. "Tyler Fitzgerald probably won't be able to maintain the numbers he posted last season, which were generally promoted by BABIP, but he'll still be a great stopgap until Kim Ha-sung is ready to take over at second base."

"It will be interesting to see him leave Petco Park and play his home game in San Francisco," he said, expressing expectations, "Oracle Park's wide outfield will help his double power play."

The problem is money. "Most of the time it's just a matter of money," the media outlet said. "Kim Ha-sung is a great and versatile player, and there are very few teams that will not improve if he joins. Still, few teams will make a simple decision to recruit him."