Free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim has received “several” offers of at least five years, according to Daniel Kim of ESPN. Major league teams have until Jan. 1 to sign him.
Although he hasn’t played a game in the majors, the 25-year-old Kim entered the offseason as one of the most coveted free agents available. Kim starred in the Korea Baseball Organization from 2014-20, during which he slashed .294/.373/.493 with 133 home runs and 134 stolen bases in 3,664 plate appearances. KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes then posted Kim for MLB teams, and MLBTR predicted he would sign a five-year, $40MM deal in free agency.
So far, the Blue Jays and Rangers are teams with known interest in Kim. He joins Didi Gregorius, Marcus Semien and Andrelton Simmons as prominent free-agent shortstops. Although they’re more proven than Kim, he might out-earn all of them if multiple five-year proposals are on the table.