10:41pm: The Heroes announced that the posting window will open at 8:00 am Eastern on Thursday. MLB is evidently waiting until tomorrow to formally notify teams about his availability. Kim will have until 5:00 pm Eastern on January 3 to sign (X link via Yoo).
9:17pm: The KBO announced that the Heroes have officially made Kim available via the posting system. The posting went into effect at noon on Wednesday in South Korean time, not at 12:00 pm Eastern as previously reported. According to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News (X link), the 30-day signing period will officially begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern the morning after MLB informs teams of Kim’s posting.
2:30pm: Infielder Hyeseong Kim is expected to be officially posted by the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization on Wednesday at noon Eastern/11am Central, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network (X link). Once it’s official, that will start a 30-day window where all MLB clubs can negotiate with Kim and his representatives. If no deal is signed in that time, he will return to the Heroes for the 2025 season. (The NPB posting window has been expanded from 30 days to 45 days but KBO players still have a 30-day time frame.)
Kim, 26 in January, said himself last week that he believed the formal posting process was about a week away. It appears that timeline is holding, so Kim will be officially be available to MLB clubs as of tomorrow. Kim will be considered a “professional” under MLB rules because he is at least 25 years old and has at least six years of experience in a foreign league. As such, he can sign a deal of any length or dollar amount, depending on what MLB clubs are willing to offer. That’s in contrast to someone like Roki Sasaki, who is only 23 years old and will therefore be capped by the international bonus system.
It isn’t likely that Kim will secure a massive deal, but he could still have some interest. He is expected to provide a somewhat similar skillset to his former double play partner Ha-Seong Kim, no relation, as both players are considered sure-handed defenders at multiple spots on the diamond. Hyeseong has mostly played the two middle infield spots, but also with brief stints at third base and in the outfield corners.
Offensively, Hyeseong is a tick below Ha-Seong, however. Hyeseong has slashed .304/.364/.403 in his eight KBO seasons whereas Ha-Seong hit .294/.373/.493 in his seven campaigns in Korea. The batting average and on-base numbers are fairly close but Ha-Seong clearly has the edge in terms of slugging. Hyeseong got to 11 home runs in 2024, a career high for him, whereas Ha-Seong had 19 or more homers in his final six KBO seasons, including 30 in the final year.
Still, even if Hyeseong is a tick below Ha-Seong in the power department, his youth and athleticism should work in his favor. As mentioned, he is considered a strong defender and could be placed at multiple different positions. He has stolen between 20 and 46 bases in each of the past six seasons.
MLBTR predicted he could secure a three-year deal with a $24MM guarantee as part of the annual Top 50 Free Agents post. However, predicting the interest in a player making the move from overseas can be difficult, as players like Jung Hoo Lee and Masataka Yoshida both proved to have much more earning power than was assumed by forecasters.
The Mariners are reportedly interested in Kim but it stands to reason that plenty of others would be in the mix as well, given his versatility. Clubs like the Giants, White Sox, Marlins, Brewers and others are speculative fits. Players like Willy Adames, Ha-Seong Kim, Gleyber Torres and others are also available in the middle infield free agent market. They will be joined by Hyeseong but the 30-day posting window means there will be clarity on his status by the first few days of 2025, at the latest.
In addition to the money going to Kim, a signing club will also have to pay a posting fee to the Heroes, the value of which will depend upon the size of the contract. The fee will be calculated as 20% of the contract’s first $25MM, plus 17.5% of the next $25MM and 15% of any dollars thereafter. Additional earnings, such as performance bonuses/incentives or salaries on option years fall under that purview once they are unlocked or exercised.
Cue up Tina Turner, “We don’t need another Hero.”
that must be a typo – should be 45 day window
Article presumably updated with this info after you made this comment, but only NPB posting windows have been extended to 45 days. KBO players still have a 30-day posting window.
ok thanks – guess it doesn’t matter anyway – the international bonus pool doesn’t apply
I’m thinking he might be a good fit in Boston depending on the final cost. Having a solid infielder would allow the team to consider trading Campbell and Medroith in their search for a true ace. I’m not saying I’d pull the trigger but it’s worth investigating. They know what the cost is right now and those teams with the pitching know what’s presently offered. Perhaps getting Kim only for money could allow a compromise as painful as it might seem.
Boston fans will riot if they trade any “top” prospects
Come on Seattle you aren’t targeting a 2nd bm but maybe talk to the guy and get a deal done. Biggest problem is he is a contact hitter not a slugger so he doesn’t fit in well with Seattle’s plans. Not enough Ks or flyballs to the warning track.
Seattle to Seoul is only a 12 hour flight, shortest in the majors. Just sayin’.
Blackpink in the area
FletcherFan
mrbutt1569
Whoops wrong username
I’m sure he will fly back on off days.
You sure about that as I’ve seen SF listed as the quickest direct flight to Seoul.
12 hours to Seattle, 13 hours to SFO.
Seems like alot of money for a utility player with no pop. I’d rather just sign Tommy LaStella for the league minimum.
Thank god you are not a gm.
True, because then unproven scrub utility infielders like this wouldn’t get ridiculous contracts.
He’ll look good wearing #7 for the Padres! Haha
People could still wear the old jerseys
Boston starts including Vaughn Grissom in trade packages…
That Grissom deal may have overtaken the Lyle-for-Cater trade for sheer stupidity.
Bagwell for Andersen raises its hand.
All Beantown boondoggles were erased when Pedro judo tossed Zim to the ground. Top 3 All-Time baseball moment for me! RIP Don Zimmer
Let the braves sign him and give him every opportunity to play at SS.
FWIW, he hasn’t played a lot of SS since 2021. Article mentioned he’s a ‘strong defender’ but is that at 2B where he’s mostly played or anything?
@Run
I have not seen him play, I’ve only checked his numbers and read about 10 or 12 articles so lol I’m certainly not an expert.
But IF he is an major league average SS defensively, can hit around.250 +, and steal 25 to 30 bases he would be a nice addition for sure.
Obviously I trust Anthopoulos to make the proper evaluation, but it would be a possible better solution than paying a ton of money for Adames (and going over the competitive balance tax threshold yet again).
Just another avenue to be explored.
That’s an insult to Arcia, who’s actually proven to be a mediocre utility guy in MLB. This guy is a mediocre utility man in the KBO.
Everybody so down in Ozzie Albies, as a Sox fan, I’d trade Montgomery for him. Ozzie Albies a solid player.
Orlando Arcia is whom I intended to compliment, got the OA’s got mixed up in my brain.
Anyhow, I like Arcia a lot as a player, listened to Braves games everyday in ’24, Arcia was instrumental in the Braves lineup, clutch hits, numbers might not tell the story but he was putting the ball in play from the 8 hole.
I really like Arcia as well, but his performance at the plate with runners in scoring position last year was absolutely abysmal. It was pretty much to the point I just couldn’t even defend him any longer…lol
It was just historically bad. I’m not even sure it is possible to be that bad again due to the law of averages and whatnot…
He’s a solid player, but if Arcia needs to prove which version of himself he is truly. Is it the 2023 version where during the first half and beginning part of the second half looked like an All-Star performer at SS, or is the the same Arcia that has struggled mightily at the plate ever since the latter portion of the 2023 season and the entire 2024 season…
I don’t know, there was a stretch in ’24 where it always seemed like Arcia was getting the clutch hit, numbers aside. That could be my bias at play but following the games and looking at the numbers is apples to oranges. It’s like knowing how good D’Arnaud was for the Braves last year, or how Jared Kelenic really had a couple good stretches at the plate when they moved him into the leadoff spot after Harris and Albies hit the IR. Numbers say Kelenic was terrible but he showed some flashes and was picking the team up when Olson was hitting .190, so it’s an ebb and a flow in putting together a team of players, some fit some dont. I like Kelenic and Arcia with the Braves, and losing D’Arnaud was a difficult one, guess he has roots in SoCal. I’m not a Braves fan either, just stuck in Georgia all summer, but was a good season of baseball.
@bwmiller
If Ozzie Albies can stay healthy he is usually one of the better secondbaseman in the league.
And I’m not saying that Orlando Arcia isn’t a decent enough SS (who had a bad year with the bat in 2024), but just looking for cheaper options than Adames (who I don’t think will ever live up this next contract).
Ive only had one can of Miller, I swear, the big can though.
I like Arcia as much as Albies, Arcia hit .264 in ’23, has a little power, great glove. Listened to all the Braves games in ’24 and I’m telling you it was Matt Olson, Spencer Schwellenbach and Orlando Arcia who led that team down the stretch, D’Arnaud too when he was in the lineup.
Let the Mariners sign him to have an arc like Ichiro did…
As much hate as Yanks fan had for Torres, he currently is the best FA 2b on the market.
Yanks have 3 options. Acquire an above average 3b and move Jazz to 2b. Give Caleb Durbin the nod in a ST “battle”. Maybe sign this guy. Sooooo many questions.
I like this guy as an inexpensive option for the Yankees ! To my understanding the posting fee does not count towards cap so they would not owe additional funds there plus there won’t be a ton of pressure to perform in that lineup.
Durbin, Peraza, Oswaldo, and DJL in ST right now. If they roll with that and the position scuffle, make a trade in May. I don’t think Cashman will settle for that if they sign Soto since tax thresholds be darned.
We/they tasted the Series again, Creech. Yanks aren’t settling at any position for a bit imo. A professional second or third baseman is coming with Jazz filling the other slot. Who that’ll be will be very interesting.
I am intrigued by Kim2 here, but OG Kim I like as well, though he’ll be out a bit to start–not ideal.
Future Pirate
Waiting for roki to post
Hurry up alredy
@johncoltrane
He’s not coming.
He already signed to play for the expos.
Giants need both HSKs
I would totally be onboard if the Giants got both
4th place is something of a goal for you
Considering the state that Farhan left the club in … it’s going to take a few years to get out of the dumpster fire
to be fair Farhan inherited an aging Giants team with bad contracts, but the problem was once team moved out of those contracts, he failed to improve farm through poor drafting overall (he did get a few good choices)
Team itself has a possibility to rebound quickly with improve player evaluations at draft, but they need to attract star run producing talent – They cannot continue to bite for runs while their pitchers keep game score low enough but offense spudders to produce wins – they need 3 deep bats in lineup at run producing positions at least
once their offense hitting improves they shed the pitcher comes here for a season to get paid better by another team next season bit – to have them want to comeback.
My goal would be they sign soto snell and Burnes. THEIR goal is fourth place I just want to see something interesting like a bunch of Koreans picking it in the middle infield.
Get it done, Mr. Dipoto.
We need a draft system to spread out the talent.
I believe the owners recently offered to drop the qualifying offer in exchange for an international draft but the PA did not go for that. Players value free agency pretty highly, it seems.
I’ve been impressed with the defensive abilities of some of the Korean guys, particularly former Padre Ha Seong Kim.
@mlb fan. Yeah 3/24 isn’t bad if that’s his price. He’s similar to ha seong kim without the pop. He’s definitely worth a look.
@baseball. Did you read the article probably not. So I’ll save you time. That’s his projection.
Atleast you didn’t call me epstein.
@HuxRedler you’re projecting your narcissism again. Stop it, right now!
Oh look, a legitimately Low IQ statement! Hoping my Pads get an HSK rerun but I’d settle for this one!
The Mariners will do their due diligence (and probably already have), but it’s hard to see them spending 20-30 million on a player with no MLB experience. He comes as a huge unknown and the defense isn’t going to be enough.
Seattle needs proven hitters.
I agree, but there aren’t any at Value Village or Big Lots. Maybe they’ll do some dumpster diving in the bins behind Dodger Stadium.
This is the Kim the Giants should target.
Great glove and contact hitter. Leave him at 2B and Fitz at SS. Get it done Buster!
Both of them wouldn’t be terrible tbh
I don’t know what highlights you were watching but here’s HS Kim playing for team Korea vs the Dodgers. He can hit MLB pitching.
youtube.com/watch?v=rs_ixL3Cegg
@baseball. You watched a 10 minute highlight reel on a 6 year career, and became a international scout.
Cool. I’d love to see that 10 minute clip. If you wouldn’t mind posting the link, thanks!
BTW, if this guy can just have an OBP of over .300 with a good glove he’s got value.
@davemlaw. It’s on YouTube. But the article says he mirrors ha soeng kim. With less power, and captain genius says he’s a slap hitter on his highlights. 8 million isn’t crazy for a 26yr infielder.
These guys are just KBO fan boys. You of course are correct. This kid hasn’t proved anything in the MLB and his stats in a lesser league are by no means impressive.
The Padres should
He’s a Kiwoom Hero, with stars in his eyes
He’ll come alive tonight!
It’s Kim-possible
K Pop stars without the pop. So they’re just Ks.
Ooh deep cut joke. Points!
Concur.
If the braves don’t pony up the money for Adams, or Ha-Seong Kim, or explore the trade market for an established short stop I wouldn’t mind this guy being the one that finally extends the braves market to the asian
Is this the comments section for Juan Soto’s free agency? Because he should be a yankee if it is. And if it isn’t, he should still be a yankee, damn the consequences, full steam ahead.