It’s raining Asians at MLB. After the Japanese trio landed with the Dodgers, it was time for the Yankees now to look to the Korean 2B for added defense power. Well, the Yankees have parted away with their long-trusted 2B Gleyber Torres and need someone who can check both offense and defense. Here comes Ha-Seong Kim in the picture! Yes, the former Padres infielder is predicted to be with the Bronx Bombers. 

Well, Kim is a proven asset both in MLB and KBO League and his versatility is what the Yankees are looking for. His Golden Globe Award is something speaking for his defensive abilities. But is that all the Yankees are opting for him over once-established baseman Torres? Moreover, how can the Yankees are going to take the fight to the star-studded roster of the Dodgers? 

Ha-Seong Kim is what versatility stands for 

Well, Kim had an injury-ridden 2024 season with the Padres and missed the postseason run with them. However, he had played a total of 124 games and came out with 11 HRs and 47 RBIs. He even batted at .233/.330/.370 proving his ability as the second baseman. His performance at KBO is more impressive with 3x Golden Gloves awards. So yes, Ha-Seong Kim can bring stability to 2B for the team he will play. But with this stat, he is surely coming with a steep price tag, right?

No! Even with this stat, the projected price for Kim is still lower than what the former Yankees star Torres gets from his new contract. As per the projection, the Yankees can get Kim with four seasons with $49 million, that’s something like $12.3 million each year. Torres got signed with the Tigers for $15 million. A good pitch for Kim in the free agency market! This adds to Kim’s versatility to play both in 2B and 3B. Reportedly,  Kim has played in both 2B and 3B at KBO and also with the Padres. So, quite a good prospect!

More surprisingly, Kim even with a lower asking price than Torres performed better than him last year. How? His WAR of 2.6 is high compared to 1.8 of Torres even with playing 33 games less than the latter. So, that’s enough for Kim to get the attention from the top-tier teams like the Yankees. If his injury can be properly managed, then Ha-Seong Kim can be a potential asset for any team. For the unversed, Kim recently got his right shoulder operated on and won’t be ready for the opening day this year. So, how much of a logical match Kim is for the Yankees?

Kim is what the Yankees are looking for 

Well, after releasing Torres, the Yankees are on the lookout for a reliable 2B who can fit in different positions. Also, someone who will get to base and make runs where Kim is the most logical fit. Yes, maybe Ha-Seong Kim is not a name the Yankees need to counter the star-studded roster of the Dodgers but his skills can come in handy. How? Well, the Dodgers are here with their Japanese pitchers, and the defense consistency of Kim just behind Aaron Judge is what the Yankees can do to dwarf the Dodgers’ pitches. So, instead of opting for big names, the versatility of Kim can be more effective for the Yankees.

However, Kim is associated with Scott Boras, the name behind some of the outrageous deals in MLB. So, even though Kim is predicted for the Yankees, the higher asking price may be a challenge if other franchises come in. Also, injuries are something that can affect Kim’s playing consistency and again it’s up to the Yankees to manage Ha-Seong Kim properly. Once, all these are checked, Kim can be the Yankees’ latest answer to the Dodgers. 

Nevertheless, panic buying is not an option for the Yankees seeing the signing spree of the Dodgers. It is a few sensible picks like Kim, which can make a real difference for them. So, now the time will answer if this prediction is coming true and if so, then the Yankees fans can bet on Ha-Seong Kim to take the fight to the Dodgers this year.