Kim Ha-sung (29, San Diego Padres) was mentioned as one of the candidates for the Detroit Tigers’ upcoming FA recruitment. With shortstop Javier Baez (32), who recruited the FA three years ago, reduced to “eat and run,” Kim Ha-sung was chosen as an alternative.
Major League Baseball’s official website “MLB.com ” predicted the movement in Detroit’s upcoming FA market, which has been on the rise on the 14th (Korea Standard Time). Detroit, which has failed to play fall baseball for the past nine consecutive years since 2014, has continued its postseason hopes with 76 wins and 72 losses (winning rate .514) this year, ranking fourth in the American League (AL) Central District and fourth in the wild card.
As rebuilding’s performance over the past few years has come out this year, expectations for next season are also rising. MLB.com said, “We often supplement our power by recruiting FA players as the final step for rebuilding teams to compete. Financially, Detroit has room to recruit FA. Except for Baez, there are few big contracts to pay in the future. The total annual salary of the team is well below $100 million, and if we decide to recruit FA, we will have money to spend,” predicted Detroit’s entry into the FA market.
An AL team official said, “I think Detroit will spend money. Both pitchers and batters have good players. Pitchers are sluggish due to injuries, and Spencer Tokelson is sluggish, but that can be recovered quickly. I expect that if we spend a little more next year, we can rank No. 1 in our district.”
MLB.com has “Tarik Skubal, Rhys Olsen, and a few other options on the starting lineup. It will be even better if Jackson Jove, the second-ranked promising player in the team, joins the team 스포츠토토. Just as the team recruited Jack Flaherty (LA Dodgers) and Michael Lorenzen (Kansas City Royals) over the past two years, it is possible to recruit starting pitchers through short-term contracts, but chances are low that it will recruit players such as Corbin Burns (Baltimore Orioles) and Max Fried (Atlanta Braves). Despite the presence of Tokelson and Baez, the two positions that need to be resolved are first baseman and shortstop,” he said, pointing to Detroit’s point of strengthening FA capability.
Detroit’s biggest concern is the shortstop, with Tokelson, a promising right-handed slugger who was selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020, in a slump with a batting average of 217 (65 hits in 299 at-bats) in 78 games this year, eight homers, 31 RBIs and OPS.651. Báez, who signed a six-year, big-time FA contract with Detroit in December 2021, has been sluggish for three consecutive years. This year, when he receives an annual salary of 25 million dollars, he hit bottom with a batting average of 184.50 hits in 272 at-bats, six homers, 37 RBIs and OPS. He was out for the season after undergoing surgery on his right hip at the end of last month.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said, “There’s no doubt that Baez had a really tough time here. I hope he can find his health and perform the way we knew he would.” However, he has been sluggish for three consecutive years, and he is in his mid-30s soon and is unlikely to rebound.
MLB.com also said, “Even if Baez’s health recovers, it is unclear whether Detroit will use him as its main shortstop,” adding, “If Detroit decides to recruit an FA, there is little possibility that it will catch big names such as Juan Soto (New York Yankees) and Alex Bregman (Houston Astros). Pete Alonso (New York Mets), Willie Adames (Miladelphia Brewers), Kim Ha-sung, Anthony Santander (Baltimore Orioles) and Teoscar Hernandez (Dodgers) will be candidates for recruitment of Detroit’s FA.”
Detroit’s shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney, who traded Flaherty to the Dodgers at the end of July, has a batting average of 224 (15 hits in 67 at-bats) with four home runs, 12 RBIs and an OPS of .711. It is showing the possibility, but we need a more certain shortstop to see the game as a challenge to win the district next season. In that sense, Kim Ha-sung, who has three beats of offense and defense, can be an attractive FA sale for Detroit.
Meanwhile, Kim Ha-sung, who was substituted after sliding on the first base at the third inning against the Colorado Rockies on April 19, was placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. He has been absent for nearly a month due to delayed recovery than expected. He can hit and catch, but he is having difficulty increasing the intensity of his throws. “I will evaluate how he will look and see if he can take the next step,” San Diego manager Mike Shildt said after checking his condition again with a catch on April 14.