Can SD no longer hold Kim Ha-sung, and the Seoul Series is also on fire

The San Diego Padres are struggling with money. With the opening of this season, the total annual salary of the team reached 255 million dollars, the highest in the club's history. However, they need to make a significant adjustment to their living conditions in a year. In May, Diamond Sports Group, the owner of Valley Sports, the exclusive broadcasting company, went bankrupt after being unable to cover more than 1 trillion won in debt, and its revenue from broadcasting rights was cut off. The company suffered a severe financial setback as revenue from broadcasting rights, which amounted to 120 billion dollars for 20 years from 2013 and 60 million dollars per year, was cut off. In September, it received an emergency loan of 50 million dollars due to short-term cash liquidity problems.

After all, San Diego plans to reduce its total annual salary for the 2024 season to below $200 million. When trading Juan Soto, a "retirement FA" who is expected to earn more than $30 million a year next year, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Johnny Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Kyle Higashioka have yet to receive salary adjustment qualifications or have received low-salary and promising players. Matt Carpenter, a designated hitter who is expected to earn 5.5 million dollars next year, was also sent to the Atlanta Braves along with pitcher Ray Kurr on condition that he compensate for 1.5 million dollars. He also put on the market Kim Ha-sung, who will receive 8 million dollars next year, and Jake Cronenworth, who signed a seven-year, 80 million-dollar long-term contract this year. The San Diego Padres does not officially recognize this, but local media in the U.S. are constantly raising the possibility of trading Kim Ha-sung and Cronenworth.

There is still a lot of contract left and the trade value of Kim Ha-sung, who has been recognized for his defense as he took a step forward in this year's attack and won the National League Utility Gold Glove, is higher than Cronenworth, which is not the highest point. It is Kim Ha-sung, who signed a 4+1 year contract with San Diego ahead of the 2021 season. After next year's four-year guaranteed $28 million contract ends, the fifth-year season includes an $8 million mutual option that is triggered only when both players and clubs agree. In terms of current value, Kim Ha-sung is likely to give up his mutual options and be valued in the market.

In fact, even in the U.S., Kim Ha-sung is expected to make a big hit. The East Village Times, a local media outlet in San Diego, said, "Kim Ha-sung has become a truly loved player by fans over the past few seasons. His play style is highly contagious and loved by everyone," but added, "His annual salary for the last season of next year is 8 million dollars. If he does not accept the mutual option in 2025, Kim Ha-sung, who will become a free agent at the age of 29, will be paid an enormous amount of money. He also predicted that it will be difficult to renew his contract with Kim Ha-sung, who will demand more than 100 million dollars in the free agent market after the end of next year's season.

If Kim enters the market and signs a contract worth more than 100 million U.S. dollars after the end of his fourth year in the Major League, his ransom will increase by 3.6 times in just four years. It is also possible to supply the necessary resources to the team through Kim's benefit in return. Bob Nightingale, a reporter for USA Today, said, "San Diego has many things to fill. We will hear more about trade proposals related to Kim. Kim is definitely able to fill in the pieces that his team needs. He has one more year to spend, and he can save 8 million dollars and get young, controllable starting resources."  메이저 토토사이트

Not a few clubs want Kim Ha-sung. The Boston Red Sox and the San Francisco Giants are being discussed the most right now. The San Francisco Chronicle is considering a trade with the San Francisco Chronicle to recruit a shortstop on the 19th. A package that includes one or two young pitchers in Joey Bart and the team's surplus outfielder can be used to find a trade with a player like Kim Ha-sung of the San Diego Padres. Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers could also be a potential target.

Jen McCaffrey, Boston correspondent for The Athletic, quoted Dennis Lynn as saying, "Kim Ha-sung is the perfect fit for Boston in terms of defense and contractual terms," stressing that he should be brought in as a trade. Asked about the trade, Kim Ha-sung also seemed to have become detached now. "At first, I was stressed out, but now I don't care at all. Being a trade eventually means that another team needs me," he told a press conference in November. "As long as I have time to play for any team, it doesn't matter." Still, the place Kim Ha-sung wants to stay the most is San Diego. However, situations have been created and rumors are rising that Kim does not want to stay.

Furthermore, in March next year, Kim Ha-sung will be able to be in the spotlight more than ever due to the opening game of the Seoul Series of the MLB World Tour. However, the possibility of the Seoul Series without Kim Ha-sung cannot be ruled out. The Japanese media "Sponichi Annex" reported on Thursday that Kim Ha-sung's current team San Diego will host the opening series of the Seoul Series in Korea with the Dodgers of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. If Kim Ha-sung is transferred to a trade deal, it will be the Seoul Series without any Korean players. San Diego's situation, which is difficult to embrace Kim Ha-sung, could potentially deal a blow to the Seoul Series.