The New York Yankees have moved on from Gleyber Torres, the second baseman who held down the position for them since his debut in 2018. Torres, a former American League All-Star and Rookie of the Year finalist, gave the Yankees seven seasons but became a free agent without receiving an offer from the team that might have kept him in New York.
He ultimately signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers just after Christmas. However, the Yankees have yet to figure out how to replace Torres in the middle infield, with only 33 days remaining before spring training begins.
The Yankees expressed interest in Gavin Lux, the second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers who helped defeat them in the 2024 World Series, but Lux was traded to the Cincinnati Reds instead. They also reportedly had discussions with Brendan Rodgers, a Gold Glove-winning second baseman formerly with the Colorado Rockies, but those talks did not progress.
A new prediction from Fox Sports suggests that the Yankees might look to add another free agent to fill the gap at second base—Ha-Seong Kim, a former San Diego Padres second baseman. Kim, who is projected to cost about $49 million over four years, would come at a lower price than Torres but still offer significant value. According to Fox Sports MLB writer Deesha Thosar, Kim’s excellent baserunning and plate discipline, paired with his ability to create runs, would make him a great addition to the Yankees lineup, especially alongside Aaron Judge.
Ha-Seong KimKim, who won a Gold Glove at second base for the Padres in 2023, has a solid defensive reputation and can also play third base. Before joining the Padres in 2021, Kim spent seven seasons with the Kiwoon Heroes in South Korea’s KBO, where he earned a strong reputation as a versatile and reliable player. His skill set makes him an ideal fit for the Yankees, who are in need of a dynamic, multi-position player to improve their offense.
In fact, Kim had a more productive season than Torres in 2024, with a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 2.6 compared to Torres’ 1.8, despite playing 33 fewer games. On a per-162-game basis, Kim outperformed Torres 3.5 to 1.9. This makes Kim a potential upgrade at second base for the Yankees, offering a strong defensive presence and a solid offensive contribution at a more affordable price. Bleeding Yankee Blue, a popular Yankees fan blog, has been advocating for Kim’s addition to the team since early December, and it seems increasingly likely that he could be the Yankees’ next target.
Leave a Reply