DEC. 30: Sung Min Kim of River Ave. Blues reports (via Twitter) that Kim will earn $2.8MM in 2016 and $4.2MM in 2017. His contract allows him to become a free agent upon completion (as opposed to arbitration eligibility) and also stipulates that he cannot be assigned to the minor leagues.
DEC. 23: Baltimore has announced the signing.
DEC. 16: The Orioles have agreed to sign Korean outfielder Hyun-soo Kim, Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun tweets. The deal, worth $7MM over two years (link), is pending a medical review. Kim, he adds (link), is on his way to Baltimore from Korea tonight.
Kim, who’ll soon turn 28, just reached free agent eligibility after nine seasons with the KBO’s Doosan Bears. He reportedly received offers from multiple MLB clubs, though Baltimore was the first club known to make an offer. The Orioles have long been said to be looking for one or more outfielders, and the $7MM commitment suggests that Kim will slot into at least a semi-regular role. Baltimore utilized a variety of platoon options in the corner last year, but Kim would “likely” feature in left if signed, Connolly said earlier this week.
Kim has put up a big .318/.406/.488 slash in the offensively robust KBO, and last year had his best-ever showing. Not only did he slash .326/.438/.541, but Kim also banged a career-best 28 home runs. But Kim’s real calling card is in the on-base arena. Unlike some other KBO players who have moved over to MLB (or have shown interest in doing so), Kim is a master of plate discipline. Last year, he struck out only 63 times while drawing 101 free passes.
At $3.5MM per season, Kim will be earning less than many had expected him to earlier this offseason. At one point,Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports suggested that Kim could get paid “toward the top of the next tier of corner outfielders” behind the four major free agents. Kim’s market didn’t unfold quite that way, but he did get a decent payday from Baltimore. If Kim succeeds over the next two seasons, he could see a salary increase as he tries the market again before his 30th birthday.
Low risk high reward
I like it !
Smart view!
Cespedes > Kim
Cespedes Cost > Kim Cost
Cespedes Risk < or = Kim Risk
Good sign.
Totally agree brian1!
If he gives us .275avg 10hr 45rbi and a .350-400 obp I’d consider that a big win for DD
This might be like when the Orioles signed Chen. He wasn’t signed for all that much.
Actually, I hope Kim is better than Chen.
I am curious though can this guy field and what kind of arm does he have.
While, it is really exciting that he has a good OBP and takes a lot of walks, the problem with the Oriole outfield last year was that they weren’t all that good.
The could not field and either because of injury or lack of skill, they could not throw and that drove me nuts. Sure when Alvarez got a call up and when they traded for Parra it got a bit better, but with Jones dinged up, the O’s outfield was rough.
So, how can Hyun-Soo-Kim help us out here?
Snider, lough(spelling?), Alvarez, para, reimold, weeks. Am I missing anyone? Para best out of all of them. I think Kim brings a nice change of pace. He doesn’t cost all that much for someone with a lot of upside. Could say the same thing about snider and lough, but I think Kim was a well thought out signing instead of a “let’s look for someone quick to plug a hole”. I will say this now. Kim will be hitting in the #1 spot.
I agree, but if they like him so much, why 2 years? So they can watch him walk in 2 years? If he’s all that I would think it would have been at least a 3 year contract.
If he struggles, it’s just another lost ~3 mil. And surely he thinks he is worth more than that per year. With this contract he strikes the balance between guaranteed years, and the opportunity to become a free agent while he is still young after he has proven proven himself against MLB pitching.
Just like JHey has opt-outs before he turns 30. Don’t want to get stuck on a bargain contract after you’ve uncovered your superstar potential or proved you can handle a drastic change in culture/opposing pitcher ability.
Wouldn’t he just be arbitration eligible after the contract years expire? He wouldn’t have enough service time to be a free agent unless there’s a release clause built in ala Cespedes.
It’s different for international fas over a certain age now in the cba.
“So, how can Hyun-Soo-Kim help us out here?”
Aside from left field, the dude can also play first base as a secondary position. About his possible and likely production he’ll have in the MLB next year, you can see it here below here in the video at 0:46-0:55, Kim also has one hell of an eye and has great plate discipline… 101 walks and just 63 strikeouts this freaking year!
link to youtube.com
A light hitting guy being able to play first has no value at all.
Well, it’s just his second position after all. Besides, there’s a high possibility that the O’s will use Kim as a starter in left field for their team next 2016 season due to a slashing line of just .210/.287/.353/.640 this past season in that position.
Ever seen Moneyball?
Hit 28 home runs last year. You know who another light hitting 1b was, John Olerud. Most teams would take anything close to that kind of production in a hot second. (.295/.398/.465)
Not much.
We haven’t seen guys from the Korean League be that effective in the majors.
He’s a guy who hit well in like a 3A environment.
He hasn’t done anything yet meaning he could be a great bust.
I’d say he’s at best a .270 10hr guy in the majors.
if he is that he wouldn’t be a bust, at what the O’s are paying him he only needs to have 1 WAR over two full seasons, if he hits .270 with 10 Hrs and average defense he is probably worth more than 1 WAR
3 time gold glove winner in kbo
UZR / RF ?
Need more info to label him legit.
How bout looking at his stats click on his name in the article to find out how good he has been.
Doesn’t have the specific info.
His offensive numbers from the Korean League don’t mean a thing.
Just pointing out that he’s an unknown.
Look at what .356 avg .459 obp 40 hr Jung Ho Kang turned out to be.
He’s not a bust but
.356 average turned into.287 average
459 obp turned into .355 obp
40 homeruns turned into 15 homeruns.
All the numbers drastically declined.
I’m just saying that you can’t expect similiar numbers
in the best league in the world.
He also played in the toughest hitters park in the league so your adjustment for numbers is most likely off.
.287/.355 with 15 HRs is pretty darn good for a “rookie” getting his first taste of the majors. Theres guys who play in the minors for a couple of years and can’t even put up numbers close to that once they get to the majors.
And his signing at $3.5m per is ok for a 285/355 15hr guy…
Let’s not forget he missed plenty of games due to injury and struggled heavily to start the season
He’s going to face the hardest pitchers in the world.
Toughest hitters park or factors like that don’t matter.
Also the first taste maybe the best.
It’s not a given that he gets better either.
Hyeon-soo Kim is a better hitter then Jung Ho Kang, Kim lifetime avg is 318, next to Kang 298 and Kim’s OBP exceeds Kang by 406>398. If Kang can hit 287, then Kim should hit around 290 at least. Kang does hit for better power, but Camden Yards is a great hitting park for lefties. Doesn’t need a whole lot to put it on Eutaw Street. Besides The only real difference between Kang, and Kim power wise is that one season Kang did his Brady Anderson impersonation and hit 40 bombs. Before that he hit around 20 3 times the other 8 years. Kim power seems to stay consistent around 15-25. So if Kim hits around 290 with 15hrs 360 OBP then he will be a vast improvement and a bargain. Especially considering the Braves just signed a similar player to a 4 yr 44million contract.
my apologies Kang life time OBP is 383 not 398
the unknown of Kim @2/$7m > then the known of Nava & Gentry @ 1/$2.3m (combined) IMO
Eppler blew this one
Yup…
Agree 100%.
Can’t understand the front office not taking chances on guys off of bust years
and paying money to unproven guys from a totally different league.
The 2 players coming off “bust years” weren’t good before and were already trending down…the unproven player is trending up in his league….I wouldn’t expect him to put up indentical stats but do think he’ll still put up WAY better stats then the aged platoon combined….on a seperate note is Orange County has a pretty large Korean population and would w/o a doubt increase ticket/concession sales where as Nava & Gentry will maybe sell a jersey or 2….
I’d rather have a lottery ticket which hasn’t been scratched off which thus has potential than one that has already been scratched and shown to be a loser.
Exactly. Rolling the dice for $3.5m/yr is a great low-risk / high-reward signing.
How is Eric Thames not getting paid by someone.
Thames will be a free agent after 2016.
Excellent!!! The O’s really needed a legitimate leadoff type hitter for several years now. It lengthens the lineup and puts a run producer like Machado down to a spot to drive in runs. Here’s my question though- after 2 years is he a free agent or is he eligible for arbitration?
I wanted the braves to sign him
Why do you think that Kim would be a free agent again in two years? Is there a term in his contract that makes him a free agent in two years, similar to the one that Cespedes agreed to when he signed with Oakland? If not, he’d be eligible for arbitration at the normal time, with a minimum guarantee of 80% of his previous year’s salary. And he’d be under club control four more seasons, like anyone else with two years’ service time in MLB. We need to see details of the contract.
I think its because he is a free agent and the contract is for 2 years. He is not arbitration eligible.
What a great move by the Orioles. If they can bring CD back and get a pitcher to replace Chen this team will be back in the playoffs this year.
Looking forward to seeing how this will work out. I’m optimistic.
Just thought, and take it with a grain of salt, but there are some clubs that guys just don’t want to play for. So when it comes time to sign, even if money is higher, they’ll take lower money and go elsewhere. This could be for a ton of reasons: management, ownership, current farm system, platooning, etc.
The Orioles were a, um, challenging team to watch from 2000-2011 and have had several solid seasons to help rehab their image. That said, they might still be on the outs for a lot of prospective players. This kind of signing helps.
people have to consider that Baltimore got a broadcasting sign with korean sports channel +sales from his attires.
we can predict whatever at this point, but judging by Jung ho kang’s performance, I think Kim will do well. plus it’s only 2 years contract. I think it’s low risk baltimore.
we will see how it goes.
Too bad I was really hoping the Padres could this guy up.
Amazing that Baltimore commits 7 MM over 2 years, and he is going to “at least slot into a semi regular role.” The Mets sign DeAza to a potential 7 MM contract for 1 year, and they announce it as a depth signing. Is there that large a discrepancy between the two teams budget wise, or is it all in the media interpretation?
Probably has more to do with the fact that we have no outfielders guaranteed to start besides Adam jones
The numbers he had last year cant be used to predict his numbers this coming year in the US. Its a cross your fingers signing at best
Not sure why you would sign this guy when Phyuck Yiu can probably be had for much cheaper.
Jays sitting watching every team get better around them.
OK, I am confused again. How can a players contract be written to prevent arbitration when that is in fact, a CBA deal? Wouldn’t that mean that any player could sign such a deal thereby totally bypassing the entire CBA arbitration process with less then 2 years service time thereby allowing them to elect FA early then others?
Like I said, I am confused.
This is a great signing by the Os. A weak outfield needed any help it could get, and at this cheap of a price, there is almost no risk. Kim will probably fixate himself into batting 5th, or maybe clean up.