Report: Cubs offer multi-year deal to talented infielder Kim Hye-seong |
It's hard to keep track of Cubs news these days, as the rumor mill is hot and heavy. Some of these rumors may end up being true, but most are being served as clickbait to try to get some attention during the downtime of free agency.
Regarding the Cubs, the rumor mill is hotter than ever, as seemingly more names are added to the pot daily. Most recently, you have heard Alex Bregman's name bounce around the Cubs organization, as many feel he is an ideal fit to play third for them. Pete Alonso is another name that continues to pop up, and both would be excellent fits should either of them land with this team. However, unless either of those guys lands in Chicago, these are just rumors, and we all know how the rumor mill goes at this time of year. However, there is a new report going around that the Cubs have offered a talented free agent a contract and one that needs to make a decision soon. According to the Korean newspaper, infielder Hyeseong Kim has received contract offers from at least five teams. Although the offers are lower than anticipated, they are all multi-year offers. As expected, the Dodgers and four West Coast teams are on that list, but the Cubs are also listed as one of the five teams to give him a deal. The expected contract is three years in the $10-12 million range. 🚨BREAKING Kim is one of the better-hitting KBO prospects on the market, and his posting window ends today. It will now be up to him to make a decision. Even with the offers being lower than initially anticipated, it's expected that he will be posted and thus sign his first Major League contract. Given that the team showed interest in Josh Rojas before he signed with the White Sox, Kim would be the perfect fallback plan for various reasons. The biggest reason is his overall versatility on the diamond, as he is the definition of a utility guy. Kim may be seen as a shortstop, but could also be seen as a middle infielder and could give the Cubs the help they are looking for. That alone gives them an insurance policy at third should Matt Shaw not be ready. It could be used at second should Hoerner be hurt to begin the season or even take over at second if Hoerner is traded and other moves happen. The 25-year-old Kim has been anticipating this move for the past few seasons and has been regarded as one of the most complete hitters in the KBO. Unlike most KBO and NPB hitters who focus more on power, Kim is one of those old-school players who care more about average than power. You can look at his career numbers as an indicator of that. He has hit .304 across his eight professional seasons and posted an on-base percentage north of .360. As if making contact and getting on base isn't good enough, Kim is also one of the better base stealers in the KBO. He has had at least 20 stolen bases in each of the past seven seasons and has more than 200 career steals to his name. That includes a career-best 46 stolen bases in 2021, as the speed aspect of his game is just as valuable as the contact side. Not only will teams look at his .304 average, but they will also look at his overall trend, as his average has continued to climb in the past five years to the point where he is now a .300 hitter.
Kim Hye-seong update
According to the Sunday Newspaper, a Korean newspaper outlet
Kim has received offers from
SEA
LAA
LAD
SD
CHI
Offer is lower than expected (perhaps closer to 10M) though he is still expected to come to the MLB pic.twitter.com/701GAoZK7q
His short left-handed swing allows him to get to most pitches, while that swing can also generate some of the best line drive rates in the game. The 2024 season was arguably his best, which bodes well for someone looking to jump to the MLB this season. For the year, Kim slashed .326/.383/.458. He did that while swiping 30 bases and connecting for 11 homers as the power numbers increased from where they have been most of his career.
Another thing that stands out about Kim is his defensive ability, as he is consistently one of the best fielders in the game. After securing a Gold Glove at shortstop in 2021, Kim moved to second base and won gold gloves in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Considering how the Cubs pride themselves on strong defense up the middle, Kim would be a great fit in Chicago should they move on from Hoerner at some point this season.
As is the case with most International players coming over, West Coast teams have as good a shot as anyone to land him, but it's not a foregone conclusion. The Cubs have a long reputation for building relationships with International talent, and if they play their cards right, they could find a way to bring him in. The only hang-up is what Kim's goal as a player is.
Money will play a role in where he signs, but you must also take in the winning side of things and whether or not he wants to win. Playing time will also play a factor in this, as the Cubs may be the toughest path for him to take as an everyday player.
Regardless, if the Cubs have offered him the contract rumored, he is a huge upgrade over what Josh Rojas would've brought to the table and is much younger in age.
The Chicago Cubs have made an offer to INF Kim Hye-seong.
— Cristian da Costa (@CubsAllThings) January 3, 2025
According to @KBO_ENG pic.twitter.com/NKOGK4IIdS
