NEWSLETTER
Have I mentioned Ha-Seong Kim yet this offseason? I feel like I’ve mentioned him a bit. Suffice to say, I think there is a reason the Chicago Cubs should be following his posting process closely.
To that end, with the period for posting players from the KBO now open, it sounds like Kim will officially be made available to MLB teams after Thanksgiving:
#KiwoomHeroes GM Chi-hyun Kim said this afternoon that he expects Ha-seong Kim to be posted shortly after Thanksgiving break. Kim will be represented by @ISEWorldwide #KBO #MLB
— Daniel Kim 대니얼 ê¹€ (@DanielKimW) November 13, 2020
This is very sensible timing for the start of the 25-year-old shortstop’s posting period, as it’ll keep open his 30-day window to negotiate with teams until deep into December. Moreover, it’ll mean that he will have plenty of time to talk to teams *after* they get a sense of the market if it gets reshaped by the non-tender deadline on December 2.
For the Cubs, it would buy them a little more time to sort out their financial situation (in terms of trades and non-tenders), and also perhaps afford them more time to adjust their 2021 budget as more information about the pandemic and the vaccine become available.
I don’t think there are too many guys out there for whom the Cubs would extend themselves right now, but I also think they might consider being more flexible when you’re talking about a young, long-term piece like Kim. If the Cubs believe he has the potential to be a quality starter, they might put the scratch together. The best version of Kim – a high-contact, solid-power bat, who runs well and can play all over the infield – is a guy the Cubs really need over the next several years. Second base is not locked down, and shortstop and third base each have a player entering his final year of team control. There is plenty of need for a 25-year-old with upside. If you need more info on Kim, that’s the link for you.
