“Kim Ha-sung’s annual salary of $7 million is a bargain, to capture the hearts of disappointed fans

In order for Ha-seong Kim to extend his contract with the San Diego Padres, the team’s position on Juan Soto must first be resolved. Both players will become free agents at the end of next season, but attention is focused on Soto, who is three years younger than Kim Ha-seong and has unprecedented hitting talent.

On the 4th (Korean time), the American newspaper ‘The Athletic’ expressed the opinion that if San Diego cannot sign an extension with Soto, they should trade him in the offseason. The basis of the argument was that if San Diego tries to win the World Series again next year, it is a force that cannot be easily given up, but they must face reality.

Dennis Lin, a reporter covering San Diego for The Athletic, said, ‘San Diego is approaching Soto’s final year before free agency. They may need to find replacements for Cy Young Award hopeful Blake Snell (who becomes a free agent after the season) and star closer Josh Hader. Considering this year’s failure, the expected gap in next year’s roster composition appears to be more difficult than before,’ he pointed out.

He then asked, ‘Should we pay Soto $30 million in annual salary next year? “Couldn’t that money be used to secure multiple starting pitchers, a much-needed bullpen, and more lineup depth?” he said. “Even at the age of 24, Soto appears to be better suited as a designated hitter.” He won’t consider anything less than the 15-year, $440 million contract from the Washington Nationals that he turned down last year. ‘If Soto doesn’t agree to a reasonable contract extension, he should look for a way to revive his value,’ he argued for a trade.

Reporter Lin said, ‘Some reports say San Diego is working on a contract extension with Soto, but there are still no signs of a serious attempt. Agent Scott Boras is not going to give up on the open market without getting some kind of discount. Trading Soto this winter means they won’t be able to get back a lot of the talent they gave up to acquire him last summer. However, he emphasized, “If you wait longer before free agency, the expected return will inevitably decrease,” and that it is better to not waste time and make a trade when the value is high rather than having regrets about Soto.

If Soto is traded this winter, the possibility of Kim Ha-seong’s contract extension increases. The local media has consistently argued for the need for Kim Ha-seong to extend his contract more than other players. On the 2nd, the East Village Times, a local media outlet in San Diego, also praised its presence, saying, “Fans developed cheering slogans at the Petco Park home, but they were not for the Big Four, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Soto, and Xander Bogaerts, but for Ha-seong Kim.” I stopped.

The media then said, ‘Kim Ha-seong has become one of the most valuable players in San Diego. To his surprise, he ranks high in many categories on the team. If you look at the annual salary ($7 million), it is a bargain. However, his four-year contract ends next year, he explained, adding, “It is a disastrous season for San Diego, where the team’s annual salary is $251 million, but Ha-seong Kim is one of the bright spots for the team.”

He continued, ‘San Diego fans rarely have a reason to cheer, but Ha-seong Kim always plays with such hustle that his helmet comes off, giving them a reason to cheer. In commemoration of his hustle, fans recently received a special bobblehead with a detachable helmet as a gift,” he said. “The San Diego front office should pay attention to the slogans for Kim Ha-seong and the popularity of the bobblehead. Fans overall are very disappointed and ticket prices may increase. ‘Extending Kim Ha-seong’s stay in San Diego will help keep fans interested and coming to Petco Park,’ he said, repeatedly emphasizing the need for Kim Ha-seong’s contract extension.

By: 안전놀이터