Before making San Diego his new baseball home, Ha-Seong Kim was courted by the Red Sox, per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. The South Korean infielder ultimately signed with the Padres for four-years, $28MM, in part because he preferred the weather of a west coast team, writes Abraham. Blue skies and sunshine are a clear tiebreak in the Friars’ favor, not to mention the current competitive advantage the Padres hold over the Red Sox. He’ll have a shorter leash in San Diego with Jake Cronenworth pushing for reps, but with their rebuilt rotation, the Padres figure to be an exciting franchise for which to suit up in 2021, even on days when he has to watch from the bench.
For Boston, Kim would have fit nicely into their rebuilding efforts given his youth, versatility, and short-term fit at second base. They have been active in the international market thus far this winter, but without much to show for it. Kim would have found himself among peers by age in Boston, with Rafael Devers, Alex Verdugo, Michael Chavis, Bobby Dalbec, and Marcus Wilson all within a year of Kim’s 25.2 years of age. Alas, Chavis remains the likeliest volume producer at the keystone for Alex Cora’s squad, at least until Jeter Downs or someone else proves ready. Elsewhere…
- Speaking of the Red Sox, they continue to make broad inroads into the free agent market, looking primarily for pitchers and a second baseman. Kiké Hernández is one target that remains a possibility, said Masslive’s Chris Cotillo on the IV The Love Of Sports podcast. Internally, Christian Arroyo continues to be a name of interest, notes Cotillo, but he’s unlikely to be the full-stop, number-one option at second base entering the season. On the pitching side, Cotillo suggests Boston could add two starters for the rotation before opening day.
- They remain in contact with long-time centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., per Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald. The Red Sox have filled their dance card in the outfield, at least in terms of name recognition with Alex Verdugo, Andrew Benintendi, and Hunter Renfroe on the roster, but all three carry some uncertainty – and none of the three are true centerfielders. Jarren Duran also figures to push for a big league role this season. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom indicated that a resolution on this front probably isn’t coming in the near-term. A relative dearth of centerfield options on the open market gives JBJ a potentially robust collection of suitors to consider.
Oh yeah, it doesn’t matter that the Padres are absurdly stacked, its “the weather” haha
Can’t blame him for wanting to play for a contender….and of course the “weather”.
Contender yes but the season is neither won in a computer nor in January. How many computers or pre-season experts picked the Red Sox in 13? I’m of the mentality that any team with Machado has to win it before I’ll believe it.
Baseball is a spring / summer sport. It’s not like they have to wait for the snowplow before they can throw out the first pitch.
Someone hasn’t been to Minnesota or Colorado in April. Lol
Or Detroit, Chicago or Cleveland.
the June Gloom in San Diego always surprises the tourists. Kim needs to brace himself
Dude the weather is way better in SD all year long. We rarely get above the low 80s with none of your wicked humidity. Anyone who says the weather in SD is not way better all year long is just ignorant !
. Last I time I was in Boston in January it was -9 Fahrenheit !
you dont play baseball in January
Has, while a very few like snow or rain…it seems safe to say SD has the most temperate weather of major cities in the US. Primarily high-pressure systems for most of the year close to 30 degrees north and the cool ocean current from the north to cool off the coast when inland gets hot.
If Dodger Stadium was closer to the coast, there would be similarly mild weather there too.
Yaz* not Has
love me some meteorology talk on mlbtraderumors dot com. y’all are the best
Dark…..No sh.t ! Knew someone would make that stupid comment.
When Boston is 90 degrees in July with 95 percent humidity, it will still be in the 70s here. It is one of the only good things I like about SD. Can’t wait to move when my youngest graduates in two year to somewhere with less people and cooler weather. Lol
I would take Kim at his word…Korea has 52 million people in a place the size of Kentucky, is 70 percent mountain and hill country, and has weather like the upper Midwest. If I were him and could choose, I would pick a warm place too.
Marty – I live in SD, and am hiking right now at 65 degrees outside….what do have. Lol
Yaz…It was a great day for hike today in the Southland today
I don’t know why you feel Kim isn’t being genuine. He only said the weather was involved and San Diego has some fantastic weather.
The Padres have had some decent teams over the years and never go no where. Hard to compete in the NL when there’s alot of different teams who spend those big bucks. I don’t think the Padres are gonna anywhere this year again.
Why do teams looking for 2b help not give Scooter Gennett a look. No, not the best defender but when healthy he rakes. And would be a cheaper alternative.
I’ve often wondered the same. Seems like the perfect match, especially for a cash saving mindset, like Chaim. One of the better “Low risk, high reward” options available. For Scoots, might be the edge he needs. Also, a little pressure from a vet who’s had success in the past, could be a good thing for some of the younger guys. Also, 2021, I think that means Rick Porcello is in line for a good year? If nothing else, someone who will eat some innings at the backend of the rotation, just saying.
I always liked Scooter. I think he was with Texas or completely out of baseball last year.
he didnt play because he didnt get the offer he wanted.
Given their needs for a fourth outfielder are more pressing than a backup infielder, I would have preferred Preller sign Kike Hernandez. He’s experienced, versatile, and likely would have cost less than a KBO prospect.
Not sure about this column, it seems alotta nothing. Where’s the pitching?
Bring back JBJ
We better not overpay Kike Hernandez.
Yeah he does nothing for me if he can’t pitch !!
Doubtful that Bloom overpays anyone
Rare puff piece on here. Red Sox have accomplished little free agent-wise and yet we’re being told they “continue to make broad inroads.”
And the article doesn’t even mention the signings they have made, Renfroe and Andriese. Strange.
The Red Sox have filled their dance card in the outfield, at least in terms of name recognition with Alex Verdugo, Andrew Benintendi, and Hunter Renfroe on the roster, but all three carry some uncertainty – and none of the three are true centerfielders.
If I recall, Benintendi was originally a centerfielder.
originally, yes; but i’m not sure he can handle it anymore.(1) he’s fine as a piece of the of, but the bosox need a real cf and jbj would be my choice
1. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/25/sports/what-happened-andrew-benintendi-can-he-rebound-it/
Well, if it’s going to be a winter where Hunter Renfroe is their big move, adding Kike isn’t a BAD move. Not so much for the talent level, but he is a lively one. Right now the clubhouse is full of guys that would bore Stormy Daniels to death.
Kim signed with the Padres because of 1. Money and 2. The no-minors clause.
I think some team should give Arroyo a full time opportunity, and see where it goes from there. There’s 1b or 3b in DET; I’d be okay with a trade. Along with Chavis for that matter..
I know we got Mookie, but Verdugo will be so fun to watch develop. Shame it’s not on our team. Awesome energy, wants so badly to do well for his team.
yeah that guy’s a star in the making. Boston made a great trade in resetting that pesky tax while replacing Mookie with a player who could be almost as good and is much younger and controllable.
Verdugo was my favorite Dodger when he was on the team, but he will never be “almost as good” as Mookie Betts.
Same, I loved the guy, but I understand how trades work. It’s hard, you get attached to players.
I agree. I think posters are very mistaken when they say the Red Sox got ripped off. They got an outstanding haul. It won’t be a surprise to me at all if Verdugo alone turns out to be worth the trade. He might not be the second coming of Betts but to me it looks like they got a quality outfielder who will produce all-star or near all-star numbers on the cheap for the next 3 seasons.
starting Kike does nothing for the team unless they add serious talent and go for it this year. otherwise, he’s just blocking guys. might as well start Muñoz or Arroyo and see what you have.
Kike is a tricky one, he was a very popular player, great personality, funny guy, he had his chances to potentially get an offer. But never really consistently produced.
I will follow his progress wherever he ends up.
I would love nothing more than to see this guy do well.
I’m going to be disappointed if the Red Sox don’t sign Sugano. He fits exactly what they need right now..proven arm, low walks, innings eater and he won’t be overly expensive. The absolute most I see Sugano getting is 4/60, but I think he can be had for 4/52. If the Sox sign Sugano for 4 years & Kluber (or Rich Hill) to a 1 year deal, they will have remade their rotation overnight. Then they need to add a solid BP arm (Rosenthal or Colome) a utility IF like Keke and a CF option. They should be able to do all of this for under $40M and become a wild card contender. At the very worst, they win more than 81 games next year which would be a step in the right direction. The Sox can’t go through a full rebuild, nor do they need to. Plenty of young help is on the way from the minors over the next couple of seasons (Downs, Duran, Mata, Houck, Seabold and Groome to name a few).
The problem with ‘waiting for the next wave of talent from the minors’ argument is they wont be supplementing what exists now by that point.
3 seasons from now you’ ve either lost, or have approaching within a season or so of, FA all of the likes of benny, verdugo, vazquez, devers, chavis, erod. You’ll also have bogey either opted out or age wise in the downswing, and a 3 yr older Chris Sale.
The ‘core’ to be supplements will be in decline or gone. Then what? You’re no better off. At SOME point you need to sign a few guys to supplement a talented core, which they have now. The time to spend on a bullpen, one or two SP, and a true CF is NOW.
Otherwise it’s just wasted years and not even trying to compete. If you’re not TRYING to win, at least join the pirates for high draft picks a couple years till you’re willing to.
AT SOME POINT probably is next year. Accumulating talent is Bloom’s plan. I’m as frustrated as any Sox fan but only managment knows what the strategy going forward. Bloom will get it done in due course.
Are the Red Sox in on K Wong at all?
Depends on his price.
FWIW, I like him a lot. If they go with Chavis/Arroyo, awaiting a mid-season callup from Downs, I would argue. But at the right price & length, Wong would be a pretty good addition.
Another reason for picking a West Coast team is that the average flight time from Los Angeles to Seoul, Korea, is about 12 hours, 26 minutes (~6000 miles) while it is about 21 hours, 45 minutes (~8500 miles ) from Boston.
Delta has a 15 hour flight from Boston to Seoul. You should’ve known your facts were incorrect when the difference between the two flights was 9 hours.
Sorry but it’s not an almost nine hour flight from LA to Boston
I wonder if Bradley has priced himself to high for contenders. He would be a great 4th OF or on an offensive team, great starting CF. The Red Sox shouldn’t bring him back as they are too far away. Their pitching is a mess that is going to take some years to flush out. You can’t trust Sale and E-Rod to anchor a staff at this point.
I think JBJ is overkill. If we sign him, then he plays fulltime in CF. That pushes Verdugo to RF, and Renfroe/Benni is a hard platoon.
We could get Pillar far cheaper, for one year. that leaves an everyday OF of Benni, Verduo, & Renfroe, with Pillar taking ABs from Benni against tougher lefties, and as a general #4 in the OF.
I wouldn’t sign JBJ. I think Verdugo is a star in the making, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with Renfroe’s defense and power – especially if he gets everyday ABs.