As the first weekend of 2025 approaches, here are three things we will be keeping an eye on around baseball:
1. Hyeseong Kim’s deadline to sign is fast approaching:
We don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but there’s a good reason why Hyeseong Kim is back at the top of The Opener for a second day in a row. The KBO star was posted last month, and his negotiating window officially opened on December 5, giving him 30 days to sign a contract with an MLB team. He now has less than eight hours remaining before his posting window closes this afternoon at 4:00 PM CT.
MLBTR ranked Kim at no. 26 on our Top 50 Free Agents list this winter, predicting he’d sign a three-year, $24MM deal. However, his name hasn’t come up in many rumors or reports since he was posted. If Kim does not sign today, he will return to his KBO team, the Kiwoom Heroes, for the 2025 season. As Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News points out, Kim will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, which means he won’t need to be posted a second time if he wants to pursue an MLB career. That could improve his chances of inking a deal. Not only will he have more time to negotiate, but his new team won’t be forced to pay a release fee to sign him.
2. White Sox 40-man move incoming:
The White Sox have a full 40-man roster, which means they’ll need to make space for Josh Rojas before they can finalize his signing. The free agent infielder reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Chicago on Thursday, but the team has yet to confirm the news. Financial details of the deal are something else to keep an eye out for this weekend – as of today, they have not been reported.
Earlier this week, the White Sox traded for left-handed Tyler Gilbert and designated infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment to make room on the roster. Thus, their 40-man is currently quite pitching heavy, featuring 24 arms and just 16 position players. With that in mind, it seems more likely the White Sox will cut a pitcher to free up space for Rojas.
3. Owen White’s DFA resolution:
After signing free agent reliever Hoby Milner, the Rangers DFA’d former top prospect Owen White to make room on the 40-man roster. Since then, White has been waiting in limbo. Typically, teams have seven days to resolve a DFA, but that timeline can be extended during the period between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Now that the holiday season is over, however, the Rangers will have to trade White or place him on waivers, presumably before the end of the weekend.
drafted 7 years ago. has less than 15 major league IP and has given up more runs than IP.
not sure there’s a point to keeping white if you are the rangers and maybe a trip oversees could help his career
Plus it looks like White only has 1 more option year.
Somebody will grab him for the upside roll, extra bonus on the remaining Option.
White Sox
There’s your answer Padres.
You’re silly, tow. Go back to your padded room!
Fits the Padrss budget perfectly, and an ex -Ranger at that. He should round out the rotation.
Although Sherzer is an ex-Ranger but the Padres arr only shopping at the dollar store this offseason.
Raging through the bargain bin, the discount rack, using those metal detectors to unearth that hidden gem.
Blah, blah, blah… you’re more nutty than Bates Nut Farm, bro.
Miss out on Sasaki what the Padres should do is keep Cease and sign a Sherzer.
Trading Cease leaves your rotation threadbare.
Sign a Scherzer gives you a rotation with flexibility and veteran mentorship.
Not a coincidence that Peavy had his best year with the Padres under the tutelage of Greg Maddux.
Padres rotation could be:
King
Darvish
Cease
Sherzer
Morejon/Hoeing/Vasquez rookie call up etc.
That is a solid if not playoff worthy rotation
Much better tow, I keep rooting for ya kid! Solid post, and I’ll say add Mad Max even if we do luck into Sasaki. Cheers bub. Go Pads
tow: Wasn’t it Mike Maddux? I’m asking because I don’t recall Greg being a P coach, though he’d make a good one.
I’m sure tow meant Greg was the “coach” on the Active Roster that szn, so to speak.
@avenger. Greg was in the rotation for a year with peavy. Think he was saying a veteran leader to help.
After Morton signed for 15M, you’d have to expect Scherzer is going to get at least that number.
White Man Can’t Pitch!
How the Yankees haven’t signed him yet is weird, considering the performance vs price tag and team needs. It’s a no brainer
A light hitting infielder? The Yankees already have a couple of those in house.
@joe says. Who says he is a light hitting fielder.
His BR page says it.
@joe says. I must be looking at the wrong kim.
In 3433 plate appearances he has 37 homers. That translates to 1 homer per 312 at bats. And that’s in the Korean league. He isn’t likely to fare well in the majors with no power at all. He does have good contact numbers but not outstanding.
@joe says. So you meant to say he doesn’t have much power. That’s the right kim. Everything else is solid. He’s a better fielder than the other kim, and he has two good gloves in the mlb. Has good speed, his bat could translate he hits all over the field.
Joe: Who says HR are that important? Getting on base, scoring runs, hitting over .300… There are other ways to knock in runs.
avenger I love that style of baseball but it doesn’t exist in the way it used to. But more importantly his lack of power(at least on a surface level) against vastly inferior pitching shows a likely lack of bat speed that will be a huge problem against major league pitching. There is a reason teams aren’t falling all over themselves to sign this guy.
Joe — Rex has a strange obsession with Kim for some inexplicable reason.
Korean players – especially hitters – have a tougher hill to climb when coming to MLB. A lot of them crash and burn as the competition they face is nowhere near MLB level in the KBO.
Lots of comments here also praise Kim of the Padres as some godsend for the Yankees. The guy has been a league avg hitter and now he’s coming off shoulder surgery. Yanks aren’t touching either Kim. Let’s move along.
@baseball. I’ll make sure to rub it in your face. When your wrong. I’m guessing you will change your name by then.
Lolololol
I promise, if I change my name, it will be to “Rexisadbag”
@baseball. Alright.
Mel Rojas Jr never played MLB. Went over to Korea and Japan where he’s basically Aaron Judge. Put up middling minor league numbers in the U.S. Says all you need to know about numbers out of the KBO or Japan.
Someone who uses Papelbon reaching for Bryce Harper’s neck as their profile picture is more of a “dbag” than Rex.
@baseball. Aaron judge had mediocre numbers for Fresno state playing against lesser competition. That’s my point going off numbers isn’t always uniform. If it was it wouldn’t be interesting. Yes, there’s busts and bad signings. Let’s focus back to kim, his price isn’t going to be outrageous, and he has a good hit tool with defense, and speed.
Keep crying 2728 and go buy a sense of humor
Everyone thinking adding him was even offensive in my mind at all lmao he’s magic with the glove and can slide all over the infield. Is cheap. And is not a black whole offensively at all, steals bags, etc. He’s exactly what’s missing with this team. Some fans never learn
If Hyesong was such a bargain, he would’ve been snapped up already. MLB scouts see the same thing I do. He’s not a strong hitter. Peraza is a defensive standout, too. Why pay possibly millions for Kim when you get the same thing from Peraza for league minimum?
These late DFA’s can be a bit unfair to the player–especially when you extend them out. FO’s work over the Christmas and New Years holidays. For a player with an outside chance of snaring a roster slot, waiting can be hard.
C’mon meow, there’s plenty of time to catch on somewhere!
Someone saying the Padres offered Kim a contract, but cant find it on any news place.
Link below. The article also makes it sound like he’s not signing anywhere and returning to Korea instead.
si.com/mlb/padres/san-diego-padres-news/padres-hav…
might be true, but SI is totally disreputable at this point, so we’ll see.
Was watching a video out of South Korea, these guys said Kim still has compulsory military service to fulfill and that’s been a hurdle in negotiations with MLB clubs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that reported in US media before.
Completely agree re SI. Should have put an asterisk in my post haha.
If it’s true that the Pads made an offer, I think it’s strange that nothing was discussed on local radio down here in SD. Our local sports talk radio literally covers the Padres nonstop. AJ must be playing his cards even closer than usual this off-season, because we’ve heard NOTHING about any moves other than Cease trade rumors
SI has become a fan fiction site where all the writers do is propose fantasy trades that what would get any GM fired for considering, let alone making. Or every team signs every single player available, which if they were ever even remotely correct the Dodgers would have a 60 man MLB roster and a $350 billion dollar payroll. And sadly they do it to all sports, not just MLB
@4SFGSW9. He came to the united states in November and went back to Korea dec 23rd. Does that sound weird. It’s January 3rd.
Yeasties is right on the compulsory service. He has to serve something like 580 hours before the end of ’26 or something like that… word was he could serve in the Offseason. Whilst I agree that SI is a dirty rag now, they are correct that the Pads made an offer. Mariners, too. Idk if anybody else has, but I would suspect SF did.
@gwynning. I think a team can prorate the second year on a three year deal. Or just sign him to a one year deal. He left december 23rd maybe he went back to Korea for a week to visit with family. i don’t see anything wrong with that.
I agree, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with anything he’s doing. I highly suspect the Pads offer was 3y, probable 4th TO. Just based on what we know/suspect, I think he’s headed back to KBO for his “final” year. We’ll see in the next 5, 6 hours Huds!
@Gwynning. Yeah it’s possible he was just was posted with no intention on signing until everything is settled. That might piss off his team because no posting fees will be required now. Just figured it could be hurdle, but a team can just add a dead year so to speak.
I think the offers underwhelmed him, and he’s inclined to bet on himself this year. Idk anything though, just stabbing at it.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Even with the service, I’d be surprised if no one signs Kim. He could translate into a decent MI depending on the team.
But that’s not possible that they offered him a contract the Pads are flat out broke and starting a fire sale A- SAP will auction Tony’s statue to pay last year of Hoz then triple price of Swingin’ Friar Ale, Hodad’s and Spiro’s and chicken flautas. Triple!,!,
We’re all boned! Run for dem hills!
This Kim has only appeared at SS for 5 games on his Korean team over the past three years (8 players played SS for them this year). In 2024 he was no higher then the 4th Kim on his teams depth chart.
If he’s not really a shortstop what the heck would he do for the Padres when they have Cronenworth, Boegarts and Eguy Rosario all seeing time at the keystone? It just makes zero sense to me to add a player to the 2b mix when you have a seasoned prospect in Eguy Rosario ready for an opportunity at the league minimum.
Really hoping Eguy gets a nice chunk of playing time (300 PA’s) this year. Good upside in the bat.
Orale papi. I’m lowkey hyped for Eguy and Tirso opportunities in 25. Couldn’t tell ya what AJ has cooking though!
If the Padres and Mariners are your only 2 suitors prepare to be underwhelmed!
At least this year for Pads…
@padrepapi. Ha-seong took over ss, and hye stayed at 2nd. He still has close to 2,000 innings at ss. It’s not because he couldn’t. he just stayed at 2nd because if it’s not broke why fix it.
૮(,ㅠ︿ㅠ)ა
Making me cry sad tears, Wade.
Gwynning: I’m not saying Kim is, but if you’re an athlete, they let you off military service. It happened with soccer star Heung Min Son, who plays for Tottenham in England.
I don’t specialize in geopolitics, but it was made to seem like the ROK was requiring it sooner rather than later… although somebody said he was going to plead his case to be released. Idk that, to be clear.
@gwynning. Like you said seems like a bs article. Why was he hanging out in the u.s. for a month with lack of interest, when he had something to clear up just seems like he went back to Korea for a week to spend time with family. Something will be signed by the window.
If I was either of those teams he would be a good choice. Wonder why he hasn’t had much of a market. Low power that much of an issue for 2B?
That emoji thing is impressive.
Nah, tweets from KBO sources say he has chosen Mariners.
Sounds like you guys are refreshing this feed as much as us. Same ol news repackaged repeatedly
WSox can remove 32yo Justin Anderson off the 40 man roster. Older Right handed relievers that walk too many guys see you later. If the BP is likely going to be a major question mark again, at least go with upside youth and see if you can manufacture a couple solutions from farm system.
cwaOverhaul: I don’t know what the hell Getz is doing, but if the ancient 32-year old is better and obviously has more experience, I don’t see that the younger guy is any more valuable.
He is consistently below average even in the minors besides older. That’s exactly what a rebuilding team should avoid. They probably have some mid to upper 20s draftees that can compete in ST to earn a bullpen role. Just need a couple decent pitches and up to the individuals to have command when given the opportunity……that whole pesty merit thing to turn around organizational culture.
I think the only acceptable move for the Yankees is to sign Bregman or swing a trade for someone of that talent that’s under the radar.
That said, signing Kim to a 2 year deal where he could be a light hitting lead off guy feels like it’d allow the Yankees to get to the trade deadline with what they have under control.
My question is can he handle 2B well and will Jazz improve at 3b? Our team is now pitching focused instead of offense and good D is imperative.
unglar: In my nightmares I see the Yankees trading for Arraez for either DH or occasionally 2B where he will win his fourth consecutive batting title with his fourth different team. I wonder what the record is?
First of all, I’d like to thank mlbtr for finding something to write about the White Sox. It can’t be easy but at least they’re showing a fairness in not just covering actual teams.
Second, has there been any teams showing an interest in Kim? Actually, either Kim.
The Tigers have Ha Seong on their radar, as do others. I’ve seen Atl and NYY mentioned. I think a lot will depend on his timeline for recovery from the shoulder surgery and the extent of the damage.
There are rumors out that the Cubs made an offer for Kim, surprised they didn’t mention it in the article at least as a possibility.
Crazy how quiet it has been on Kim. At this point it looks like he’ll head back to Korea.
Maybe he can knock out his military service and put up a good year and come back.
If I was him I’d have tried to get the service wrapped up this offseason and last.
@halosheavenjj. That’s why I think the article is bull. Why was he in the US and it was quiet doing nothing. I saw Mariners have a offer on the table for lower than expected. I’m guessing he’s waiting it out til zero hour.
I’m still dreaming of a ha seong kim/hyeseong kim double play tandem and bogaerts retire or something.
It sounds like no team thought he was worth paying a fee for.
As for the power comments, it is only in recent years anyone expected a middle infielder to hit for power. That was always a bonus if it happened before.
Im surprised kim hasnt atleast received cheap 1-2 yr deal
Hyeseong Kim to the Dodgers.
Multi-year (3?) deal, for a player that can be optioned to AAA if need be (which matters). Negligible money (less than $15M in total)…..
Love this signing, for a guy who can play both 2B and SS and who can FLY….
This guys profile screams backup or utility infielder.
Should be easy for the Sox to clear a 40-man spot. Most of their players wouldn’t start on a high school team.