'Wow' You're throwing away the main luxe because of LAD Kim Hye-sung? → The reason is enough, but Kim Hye-sung's 'two abilities' are better
'Wow' You're throwing away the main luxe because of LAD Kim Hye-sung? → The reason is enough, but Kim Hye-sung's 'two abilities' are better
Blog Article
With the Los Angeles Dodgers acquiring Kim Hye-sung (26), rumors of a trade with Gavin Lux (28), who is serving as the Dodgers' main second baseman, have erupted. Rumors of a trade with Lux have been raised steadily. However, attention is being paid to the Dodgers now that they are embracing Kim Hye-sung.
Kim Hye-sung signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 4th (Korea time) for 3+2 years and up to 22 million dollars (about 32.4 billion won). The guaranteed amount is $12.5 million (about 18.4 billion won) for three years, and if the club exercises its options, the contract period will be extended by two more years. However, it is known that there is no right to reject the minor league.
According to the Associated Press, Kim Hye-sung will first receive 1 million dollars (1.465 billion won) as a signing bonus (deposit) if no special abnormalities are found on the physical examination. In 2025, the first year of joining the team, he will receive 2.5 million dollars (about 3.66 billion won) in salary, and 3.75 million dollars (about 5.5 billion won) in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Kim will discuss extending her contract with the Dodgers after three years. If Kim leaves the Dodgers, she will be able to find a new team after receiving 1.5 million dollars in buyout money. On the other hand, if she signs an extended contract with the Dodgers, she will receive an annual salary of 5 million dollars for each of the two seasons of 2028 and 2029. On top of that, according to the detailed terms of the contract, those who exceed 500 at-bats for each season will receive 500,000 dollars in bonus.
It was true that there were question marks over Kim's bid to become the starting pitcher. It would be so because the Dodgers, which won the World Series title in the 2024 season, already has a deep infield depth. Gavin Lux as the main second baseman and Mookie Betts as the main shortstop are establishing a Keystone duo. In addition, the team has abundant backup infield resources such as Miguel Rojas, Tommy Hyun-soo, and Chris Taylor. As a result, many people are paying attention to whether Kim will beat them to make the opening entry for the Major League.
However, there are still variables in the team. It means that one of them could leave the Dodgers during the rest of the off-season. Lux, the main second baseman, is considered the target. The U.S. media Sports Illustrated reported on Wednesday that the Yankees are showing interest in Lux's trade.
The media reported that the Yankees had shown interest in Luxe's trade for several weeks. Indeed, even before the Dodgers acquired Kim Hye-sung, there were continuous reports on Luxe's trade in the U.S. The news was mostly reported by media outlets in the Los Angeles area, where the Dodgers are based. SI continued, "It seems highly unlikely that the two teams that clashed in the World Series last year will become trade partners," adding, "However, there are aspects in which third baseman Alex Bregman and Yankees who are currently in the FA market are not compatible. Internal options (of the Yankees), such as DJ LeMayhew and Oswaldo Cabrera, also pose risks. It can be an interesting choice to acquire Luxe as second baseman and leave Jazz Chizome Jr. at third base through the trade."
The Yankees are not the only team interested in Lux. The Seattle Mariners are also reportedly interested in Lux's trade. The media said that Seattle is aggressively pursuing the trade of Lux. The media said that the Seattle Mariners are not physically expensive and that Seattle needs an infielder. It could be the perfect destination for Lux.
If Lux leaves the Dodgers, it is truly a boon for Kim Hye-sung in the main competition. Lux made his big league debut in 2019 in the LA Dodgers uniform. His main position is second baseman, overlapping with Kim Hye-sung's position. Lux, who played in 23 games in the 2019 season and 19 games in the 2020 season, started playing in 102 games in the 2021 season. In the 2022 season, he played in 129 games with a batting average of 0.276 (116 hits in 421 at-bats), six home runs, two doubles, seven triples, 42 RBIs, 66 runs, 47 walks, 95 strikeouts, seven steals (failed twice), a on-base percentage of 0.346, an on-base percentage of 0.399, and an on-base percentage of 0.745.
However, Lux had bad luck. He was ruled out for the 2023 season when he was injured in the cruciate ligament during an exhibition game with the San Diego Padres. As he got on the operating table, Lux blew the entire 2023 season. After returning to the 2024 season, he played 139 games, posting a batting average of 0.251 (110 hits in 439 at-bats), 10 homers, 2 doubles, 2 50 RBIs, 59 runs, 44 walks, 110 strikeouts, and 5 steals (two failed) with a 0.320 slugging percentage of 0.383 and an OPS of 0.703.
In the 2022 and 2024 seasons, Lux has not grown significantly. Rather, his utility ability and main focus are Kim Hye-sung. In defense, he mostly played second base. He played second base in 138 games (1,053 ⅓ innings) last season, and played in only one game (one ⅓ inning) as a shortstop. He made nine defensive errors.
On the other hand, Kim can play multiple positions. Kim won the Golden Glove for shortstop in 2021 and the Golden Glove for second baseman in 2024, following 2022 and 2023. Kim is the only player in the history of the KBO league to have won the Golden Glove for both shortstop and second baseman. She also received the honor for the second consecutive year in the second baseman category, which was newly established in 2023. On top of that, Kim has displayed good performance. She has made more than 20 steals every season since the 2018 season 스포츠토토. She stole 46 times in the 2021 season. She also stole 30 times last year. On the other hand, Lux had only 19 stolen bases during five seasons. If she shows off her talent in hitting, she seems to have no reason to turn a blind eye to Kim, who has utility skills and flagship skills.