The New York Yankees have made several key acquisitions since missing out on Juan Soto, but one area still needing attention is second base. With Gleyber Torres likely to be playing elsewhere next season despite his desire to stay in New York, general manager Brian Cashman faces a decision on how to fill the void. The Yankees have two options: promote from within or seek a solution through free agency or trades. This is where Ha-Seong Kim could come into play.
Although Kim, 29, may not have the offensive upside of Torres, he’s solid at the plate and far superior defensively. With a career .706 OPS, Kim won a Gold Glove Award in 2023 and finished 14th in National League MVP voting. Statcast showed he posted four Outs Above Average (OAA) in 2024, primarily playing shortstop, while Torres had a -4 OAA as the Yankees’ second baseman.
Ha-Seong Kim
MLB analyst Steven Russell recently suggested on Instagram that Kim would be a perfect fit for the Yankees. “Ha-Seong Kim … perfect Yankees fit after Gleyber Torres,” Russell said. “Defense-first guy who is at least an average hitter. He’s also very versatile defensively. I think the team could use it.”
Adding Kim would give the Yankees flexibility. Since debuting in 2021, Kim has logged significant innings at second base, shortstop, and third base. He could take over second for Torres or shift to third, allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move back to second base.
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