In this off-season, one thing has been extremely vocal by many fans: the LA Dodgers show off with their money or another being deferrals? But they recently signed Hyeseong Kim, the talented infielder from South Korea, and it didn’t cost an arm and a leg; they got him for just a $12.5 million deal. It’s below the MLB average and it raises eyebrows. Why didn’t the other teams try? Turns out Kim did get rush hour calls just hours before the deadline.

Multiple teams from the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres were in the running. Hyeseong Kim had to either sign then or head to South Korea’s KBO. And so he chose the Dodgers, though many rumors about how he was offered more but still chose LA have come out too. Foul Territory’s host, Scott Braun, was surprised with this outcome and didn’t mince his words in the show.

Scott Braun calls out other MLB teams

Scott Braun mentioned, “My question is where the hell was everyone else? If he is good, a lot of teams have to look in the mirror and ask, ‘What’s going on?’” Well, apparently the offers Hyeseong Kim got were around the $10 million mark. It’s for sure less than expected given his potential. Braun pointed out that Kim’s deal is a far cry from the $120 million contract that’s given to players.

Braun mentioned that Hyeseong Kim is popular in Korea, so that makes him even more confused as to why teams didn’t grab him. “Now he is popular in Korea; Dodeger makes even more money in Korea with deals with brands and distribution. What am I missing here?” said Scott. Well, the Dodgers sure know how to play this game – they already have a strong presence in Japan, housing the country’s stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and now, South Korea!

This deal doesn’t only bolster their lineup but also strengthens their foothold in the Asian market, bringing in more eyes and revenue. Everyone saw how Japanese tourists aided the franchise’s growth because of Ohtani. So it’s not going to be surprising to see South Koreans come for their star. Also in a twist, the LA Dodgers might have had plans to clinch Kim all along!

Shohei Ohtani’s surprising role in landing Hyeseong Kim

Nobody saw this coming, but the Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani might have a hand in getting the Korean player to LA. According to sports writer Noah Camras, Ohtani met with Hyeseong Kim in Los Angeles during the free agency process and advised him. Cameras shared on X, “According to Korean media reports, Shohei Ohtani met with Hye-seong Kim in Los Angeles and ‘gave him a lot of advice’ during his free agent process. It appears the Dodgers superstar did some recruiting to land Kim.” Well, it seems not just on the field, but the Japanese star is also active off the field.

Now, coming to Kim—the 25-year-old has been a standout performer in Korea since the 2017s. His last season was also impressive; he hit. 326 with 11 home runs, and 75 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. He has a career line of .304/.364/.403, so it highlights that he has a well-rounded game at the plate. But where does he fit in the star-studded Dodger lineup?

Well, it seems like the team has made room by designating catcher Diego Cartaya for assignment. And the team has Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and even Gavin Lux in the infield, but because of Kim’s versatility, he can play at several spots. So, they have to give him a shot at the spring training and see what role and position fit him the best. The LA Dodgers just got even more muscular and ready to defend their title; Kim’s addition adds more depth to the lineup.