Major League Baseball’s official media MLB.com said on the 21st (Korea Standard Time), “With the trade deadline approaching this season, many teams are expected to compete for acquisition through trade. The next two weeks will be a very important time for each team to decide how to spend the rest of the season. Reporters in charge of MLB.com predicted how each team will spend the trade deadline scheduled for July 31st,” introducing the trend of the trade market.
The San Diego Padres are ranking third in the National League West with 51 wins and 50 losses and a .505 winning percentage this season. The gap with the world’s leading Dodgers (58 wins and 41 losses and a .586 winning percentage) is eight games shorter. In the wild-card race of the National League, the gap between the third-ranked Mets (50 wins and 47 losses and a .515 winning percentage) is not big.
MLBcom AJ Casabel pointed out that the San Diego Padres need pitchers, but they need to be smart. “The Padres have already made important trades this season. They acquired Dylan Sheath during the spring training in Peoria, Arizona, and brought in Luis Araes in early May,” said Casabel, who monitored San Diego’s moves this season. “Those two trades reinforced the two positions required, but the Palm system has become thinner. The Padres clearly still need to strengthen their pitching staff. They need to recruit at least one starter and one reliever each. However, they need to wisely not sacrifice too much in an environment where the players who are selling them are in an advantageous market. It would be sufficient if they have a lower starting pitcher who can take the back of the starting rotation and a reliever who can take the responsibility for the seventh inning.”
As San Diego’s need to strengthen pitchers continues to be pointed out, Kim Ha-sung’s name is constantly on trade rumors. Kim Ha-sung, who was recognized for his defensive ability by winning the Gold Glove in the National League utility category last year, has played as the San Diego shortstop this season and has a batting average of 224 (74 hits in 330 times at bat), 10 homers, 40 RBIs, 50 runs and 18 steals in 99 games, with an OPS of .696.토토사이트 추천
Kim Ha-sung, who signed a four-year guarantee of $28 million (about 39 billion won) with San Diego in 2021, has a mutual option left in 2025, but it is almost certain that he will go to the FA market without executing the option. U.S. media predict that if Kim Ha-sung goes to the FA market, he could sign a large contract worth more than $100 million (about 139.2 billion won). Since San Diego cannot afford these contracts and already has abundant infield resources (Luis Aras, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado), the prevailing opinion is that it is a practical option for Kim Ha-sung to strengthen his power or supply prospects with a trade before he goes to the FA market.
However, it is not easy for San Diego to move hastily because Kim Ha-sung is one of the most loved players by San Diego fans. They say they are not handing over Kim Ha-sung at a cheap price. Fans are watching with interest whether Kim Ha-sung will wear another team’s uniform before the trade deadline.