North American sports media "The Athletic" set up a virtual lineup with players remaining in the Major League Free Agent (FA) market on the 8th (Korea time). Kim Ha-sung (30), who came to the FA market after all four-year contracts signed with San Diego in 2021, was listed as the first shortstop.메이저놀이터

Along with Kim Ha-sung, the remaining best fielders in the FA market were Alex Bregman (third baseman), Pete Alonso (first baseman), Anthony Santander (right fielder), Justin Turner (designated hitter), Jurickson Profar (left fielder), Jorge Polanco (second baseman), Harrison Bader (center fielder), and Elias Díaz (catcher). "Kim Ha-sung and Bregman are the best shortstop and third baseman left (in the FA market), but they are also the best second basemen if the team wants to make them play in that position," The Athletic said.

It is also an acknowledgment of Kim Ha-sung's versatility. Kim Ha-sung has played for San Diego for the past four years, playing not only as a shortstop but also as a second and third baseman, displaying above-average defense in all positions. Of course, Bregman is better at offense, but Kim Ha-sung is better at defense and defense utilization. Bregman is, of course, a more expensive player, and Kim Ha-sung is very likely to be cheaper than that. So he is currently connected with many teams.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, which recruited Kim Hye-sung, seem to have escaped from the recruitment of Kim Ha-sung, but there are still many teams in the market that need second basemen or shortstop. The New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres are representative, and these are teams that are constantly linked to Kim Ha-sung. The Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox are also rumored to have Kim Ha-sung recruited.

The problem is the length of the contract and the size of the contract. No one disagrees that Kim Ha-sung is the best shortstop in the remaining FA market, but there is a growing skepticism about the possibility of a multi-year contract. It's because of the shoulder injury issue. Kim Ha-sung injured his right shoulder during the base running play at the end of last season, and eventually got on the operating table after the season ended. He is currently rehabilitating. Everyone admits that it is difficult to play in the opening game. He can return within April, but the club he is trying to recruit may not be sure of Kim Ha-sung's physical condition.

Under these circumstances, long-term contracts are burdensome, and prospects are constantly being raised that Kim Ha-sung will try to prove that his shoulders and performance are normal for a year after signing a short-term contract. With a one-year contract, many teams can stick to the competition and the average annual amount can go up, but it cannot give the same sense of stability as a long-term contract. However, the U.S. media have recently been betting on Kim Ha-sung's short-term contract.

Jim Borden, a columnist for the North American sports media "The Athletic" and a former major league general manager, predicted on the 7th (Korea time) that Kim Ha-sung would sign a short-term contract with his original team, San Diego. San Diego, which has held Kim Ha-sung in its arms for the past four years, is the team that knows its value best. Borden argues that long-term contracts are possible if it is a short-term contract, although he has not been able to afford team salaries

"Kim Ha-sung, who underwent shoulder surgery after the end of the season, found out that his free agent's value was different from what he expected. We need to sign a short-term contract and show that he is healthy next year and try to recreate the 5.8 WAR season in 2023," Boden said, while dealing with the market situation. "The San Francisco Giants were interested in Kim Ha-sung until they signed Willy Adames as a free agent. Now, he seems to fit well with the Boston Red Sox, who can keep Trevor Story as second baseman. However, without a doubt, the best team for Kim Ha-sung is still the Padres," he said, insisting that the "fighter Kim Ha-sung-2nd baseman Xander Bogaerts" lineup is ideal.

Since they are still rehabilitating, clubs are expected to watch Kim Ha-sung's recovery. So far, the transfer market has not been on fire. Kim Ha-sung's side also seems to have nothing urgent to do. Since Adames signed the contract anyway, Kim Ha-sung is the best shortstop, and there are many teams that need to reinforce the infield. It is expected that Kim Ha-sung's health will be appealed and gradually ignited. What is interesting is that both Kim Ha-sung and Bregman belong to Boras Corporation. Attention is focusing on how Boras, who is very good at maximizing value through the "batch" of his players, will be able to laugh at local media expectations.