Kim Hye-sung's choice was the LA Dodgers.
MLB.com reported on the morning of the 4th (Korea time), "The source reported that the Dodgers and Korean infielder Kim Hye-sung agreed to a contract," adding, "This contract is worth $12.5 million (about 18.4 billion won) for a three-year guarantee, and the club options are set between 2028 and 2029, which can increase to up to $22 million (about 32.4 billion won)."
The Orange County Register said, "The club confirmed that Korea's All-Star second baseman Kim Hye-sung and the Dodgers have agreed to a three-year contract," adding, "The Dodgers assigned prospect catcher Diego Cartaya to put Kim on the 40-man Major League roster."
Kim Hye-sung, who was posted on the Major League Baseball's pro baseball team on the 5th of last month and continued her agony by using the 30-day negotiation period until the last day, is now on the path to conquering the Major League in the "Star Corps" Dodgers.
However, the size of the contract is far below expectations of local media. When the FA market opened in November last year, ESPN proposed the size of Kim's contract for three years at 16.5 million U.S. dollars, and MLBTR suggested 24 million dollars for three years. Although options are set, the average annual salary based on the guaranteed amount was 4.17 million dollars, which did not meet expectations.
However, chances are high that Kim will play in the postseason from the first season of the Major League. The defending champion Dodgers is set to win its second consecutive World Series title this year by joining existing players including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez, as well as left-hander Blake Snell.
Kim Hye-sung's posting fee, or transfer fee, to be paid to Kiwoom Heroes, his original team, is set at $2.5 million, or 20% under the Korea-U.S. contract agreement, as the total guarantee is less than $25 million. The transfer fee is the smallest among Heroes-turned-players who entered the Major League through the posting system.
The transfer fees for players who moved to the U.S. after being approved by the Heroes club earlier were $5,015 for Kang Jung-ho, $12,85 million for Park Byung-ho, $5.525 million for Kim Ha-sung and $18,825 million for Lee Jung-hoo, respectively.
The best infield formation for the Dodgers is first baseman Freddie Freeman, second baseman Gavin Lux, third baseman Max Muncy and shortstop Mookie Betts. It is difficult for Kim to immediately become the mainstay.
MLB.com said, "With Kim Hye-sung, the Dodgers have more options on the 40-man roster as the center infield has been strengthened. Betts will start as shortstop and Lux as second baseman, but Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman can also see those positions," and analyzed, "Kim Hye-sung overlaps a lot with Taylor and Rojas' roles, and considering Betts and Lux are the main shortstop and second baseman, he fits the utility role."
Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that Kim Hye-sung's role is to be a utility. He means that he is a backup infielder.
Kim Hye-sung is known to have received intensive offers from clubs in the West after the posting was announced. Besides the Dodgers, the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels were considered potential destinations, while the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Toronto Blue Jays were also mentioned.
Kim Hye-sung's strength is that he can defend stably with shortstop and third baseman as well as the main position, and is active base learning using fast feet. Although contact heating style scores high at-bats, local experts are also concerned that he or she will be able to overcome fastballs and various fast-changing pitches that exceed 150 kilometers due to lack of power.
Kim Hye-sung joined the San Francisco Giants last year for six years and 113 million dollars, and could face off against Lee Jung-hoo, who is entering his second season this year. The Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants will have 13 matches.
On the same day, Ohtani reported the news of Kim Hye-sung joining the team on his Instagram and posted the phrase "Welcome, my friend" in Korean. According to local media, Ohtani reportedly met Kim Hye-sung in LA and persuaded him to join the team. 메이저놀이터
Dodgers Nation, a fan media outlet, said that Dodgers superstar Kim Hye-sung worked hard to join the team. Kim Hye-sung decided to join the Dodgers with less guaranteed contract period and money.