Will Walker's 3-year 86.9 billion trip to Houston, the "No. 1 Seattle" gain momentum from negotiations to Kim Ha-sung SEA
Will Walker's 3-year 86.9 billion trip to Houston, the "No. 1 Seattle" gain momentum from negotiations to Kim Ha-sung SEA
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Christian Walker (33) has decided to go to the Houston Astros. As for the Seattle Mariners who wanted Walker, attention is focusing on whether they will focus on recruiting Kim Ha-sung (29), who was the next highest priority.메이저사이트
MLB.COM, the official website of the Major League Baseball (MLB), said on the 21st (Korea time), "According to reporter Mark Pinesand, a source said Walker, the first baseman of the big guns free agent (FA), signed a three-year, $60 million (KRW 86.9 billion) contract with Houston. The club has not made this official yet," he said.
Houston, which recently sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs and received three players, including Isaac Peredis, prepared for the departure of FA third baseman Alex Bregman, who is likely to leave, and succeeded in reinforcing first base.
Walker rejected the Arizona Diamondbacks' QO offer, which means Houston has to hand out the second and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 draft.
Walker, who entered the big league in 2014, posted a batting average of 0.250 with 147 homers, 443 RBIs and 427 runs, an on-base percentage of 0.330, an on-base plus slugging percentage of 0.463, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 0.793. He hit more than 30 home runs for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023, and posted a batting average of 0.251 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs and 72 runs, an on-base percentage of 0.335, an on-base percentage of 0.468, and an OPS of 0.803. He also has strong defense capability enough to receive the Gold Glove for three consecutive seasons.
Attention is focusing on whether Walker's trip to Houston will also affect FA Kim Ha-sung. This is because Walker was the subject of interest in Seattle, which is considered one of Kim Ha-sung's leading destinations.
The U.S. media Bleacher Report cited Seattle as a leading destination for Kim Ha-sung on the 20th, but said, "It seems impossible for Seattle to recruit Kim Ha-sung right away."
That was because of Walker. "They are expected to spend more in 2025 than in 2024, so they have to raise money before they make a big deal," the media reported. "Even if Seattle makes payroll space, Kim Ha-sung may not be the first choice. They prefer Christian Walker. As a first baseman, he will definitely fill the hole."
However, he also emphasized that the necessity is huge. "Walker has nothing, but Kim Ha-sung can do it for sure because he has excellent contact-to-ball skill," he said. "He ranked in the top 10 percent of strikeouts over the past two seasons, which will help Seattle's offense, which was No. 1 in strikeouts over the past two seasons."
"Supposing that he recovers well from right shoulder surgery, Kim Ha-sung will be able to play above average defense in various infield positions. He averaged 23 OAA (Outs Above Average), which indicates how many outcounts he catches than the league average, in four seasons," he said. "Seattle is not falling that far in this area, but upgrading the infield with minus 15 OAA this year will not harm them."
The stove league has a chain. How a player's future is determined often affects the ransom or destination of other players. For Seattle, which was aiming for Walker, the situation has become even more urgent. Even Kim Ha-sung's impatience not to miss out could play a role.
Seattle, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox are emerging as strong candidates for Kim Ha-sung's transfer. Major players' contracts are being signed one by one. The timing of Kim Ha-sung's contract seems to be approaching.