Lower Than Verlander? Kim Ha-sung is already drawing attention as a pinch-hitter free agent who "has an advantage because he is young."
"Awesome Kim" Kim Ha-sung (San Diego Padres) is already considered a "pre-emptive free agent" to pay attention to. Attention is focusing on how he will be treated if he exercises his free agent rights after this season.
The score, a U.S. sports media outlet, selected the FA ranking in the Major League Baseball on the 5th (Korea time). The preview FA ranking was selected not for the current FA market players, but for the 'preliminary FA' who will enter the FA market after the 2024 season. The score ranked from the 1st place to the 20th place in the preliminary FA.
Kim Ha-sung finished 15th. The Score said, "Kim Ha-sung has mutual options for the 2025 season, but he rarely exercises, so maybe he will qualify for free agency at the end of this season." Kim Ha-sung expected to enter the free agent market without exercising mutual options with the San Diego club after this season.
Kim Ha-sung, who was San Diego's starting second baseman last year and showed off his league-leading defensive skills as a shortstop and third baseman, was honored with the Gold Glove Award in the National League Utilities category. He also made great strides in batting, spending the best seasons of his career with a batting average of .260, 17 homers, 60 RBIs, and 38 steals. His 38 steals set a new record for the most stolen bases in a single season in a Korean Major Leaguer.
In a nutshell, Kim Ha-sung's value will inevitably increase as he is an infielder with high-quality skills in offense, defense, and offense. "Kim Ha-sung is solid enough to win the Gold Glove Award in the utility category last year, but he will be an interesting free agent infielder option because he boasts brilliant attack, excellent base play, and excellent defense," "The Score" said. "We predicted that Kim Ha-sung will be quite popular in the free agent market."
Above all, Kim Ha-sung has a considerable advantage because he is still in his 20s. The media also pointed out, "Kim Ha-sung is younger than other free agent infielders, so his age will work in his favor."
The Score ranked Juan Soto at the top of the reserve free agent (FA) rankings. Soto left San Diego for the New York Yankees after last season. Last season, he hit .275 with 35 home runs, 109 RBIs and 12 steals, setting career highs in home runs.
Second place went to Gerrit Cole, the Yankees' ace and last year's winner of the American League Cy Young Award. The media predicted Cole would opt out right after this season. Third place was Alex Bregman, the starting third baseman of the Houston Astros, fourth place was Corbin Burns, the Cy Young Award right-hander who was recently traded to the Baltimore Orioles, fifth place was Max Fried, the Atlanta Braves' left-hander, and sixth place was Jack Wheeler, the Philadelphia Phillies' top right-hander. Seventh was Paul Goldschmidt, the veteran first baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals, eighth was Jose Altuve, the "little giant" of Houston, ninth was Pete Alonso, the slugger of the New York Mets, and 10th was Kenley, the veteran closing pitcher of the Boston Red Sox.
Baltimore outfielder Anthony Santander was ranked 11th, Arizona Diamondbacks center hitter Christian Walker was 12th, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber was 13th, and Houston right-hander Justin Verlander (41) was a better position than Kim Ha-sung. Verlander finished 14th when he played for the Mets and Houston, showing off his 13-8 record with a 3.22 ERA in 162 ⅓s in 27 games last year.
Meanwhile, Toronto Blue Jays home manager Danny Jensen ranked 16th, followed by long-distance third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who was traded to Arizona, 17th, Yankees main second baseman Glover Torres ranked 18th, and Milwaukee Brewers main shortstop 16th, respectively. Willy Adames was ranked 19th, and legendary right-hander Max Scherzer, who is about to turn 40, was ranked 20th.