Dodgers GM Doesn’t Think LA Needs to Trade Anyone Following Hyeseong Kim Signing
It is no question that the Los Angeles Dodgers have a roster overflowing with talent.
It obviously takes an extremely talented roster to win a World Series, but Los Angeles has already been working to improve on their championship-caliber team since winning their eighth championship.
Friday afternoon, the Dodgers signed 25-year-old infielder Hyeseong Kim to a three-year deal after eight seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization. The contract has a two-year option that could take it up to $22 million in total value.
Kim batted .326/.383/.458 last season with a career-high 11 home runs to go along with 75 RBIs and 30 stolen bases for the Kiwoom Heroes. He has earned three KBO Gold Glove awards while predominately a second baseman, with experience at third base, shortstop, left field, and right field.
Dodgers executive vice president and general manager Brandon Gomes said at the Winter Meetings last month that eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts is planning on being the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop in 2025. This means that Tommy Edman would likely move to center field and Gavin Lux, considered a trade candidate ever since Gomes made this announcement, seemingly has a spot at second base.
It appears that Gomes is far from focused on finding a trade, rather enjoying the additional infield option the KBO standout brings.
“I think it’s more that we’re adding a really talented player, and [then will] see where things play out,” Gomes said Friday. “It’s helpful to have really strong pieces at a lot of different areas. So that’s how we’re viewing it right now.”
He was asked if he felt they needed to make any trades to clear room for Kim and responded, “We don’t feel like there’s anything necessarily that we need to do.” Especially with all the injuries the Dodgers endured in 2024, excess talent will prove to be invaluable.
Read more: What Does Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim Signing Mean for Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor, Gavin Lux?
This also eases the tension regarding the future of utility man Chris Taylor. The 34-year-old is signed through the 2025 season with a 2026 club option. If there really are no trades to be done, then it would appear Taylor is set to be rostered for L.A.’s quest to a consecutive title.
Fellow utility man and fan favorite Kiké Hernández might not have the same outcome, though.
Although Hernández has made it clear he would love to rejoin the team — and the fans would surely welcome him back with open arm — the 32-year-old free agent may struggle to find a spot on this now infield-heavy roster.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Sure would be nice to unload Taylor and re-sign Kike. Oh well.
You are right. Love ct3 but without kike we don’t win the World Series.
Even if you cut Taylor loose, there’s no room for Kike, unless they also trade Lux. There are only 13 spots available. At this moment, there are 14. Someone has to go or, Pages could be sent down.
Even if you cut Taylor loose, there’s no room for Kike. There are only 13 spots available. At this moment, there are 14. Someone has to go or, Pages could be sent down.
Remember that Shohei can count against pitcher total, not position player total, to get to the 25-player limit. The addition of Kim clearly means Lux is a goner: you don’t add a lefty infielder to back up a lefty infielder. Trading Lux and either trading or DFAing Taylor makes room for Kike, BUT . . . Is AF is willing to take a financial hit to drop Taylor in order to add Kike, who plays pretty much the same positions and is not much better at the plate? Seems unlikely.
Whatever they lose in DFA’ing Taylor will be offset by being able to sign Kike’ for a relatively low priced contract. Plus it would be good for Taylor to reset his career somewhere else where his recent efforts won’t be hanging over his head every time he walks up to the plate. And Kike’ can play all the positions that CT3 plays so there is no loss on that front. Basically you will get Kike’ at the price of Taylor since it is house money plus a Roster spot for Kike’ who played and hit much better once he started wearing glasses. I don’t see any downside to this move.
There is a 26 man limit [maybe 27 in Tokyo]. As of May, once Ohtani has played a few games and requalifies as a 2 way player,, they can have 13 pitchers, 12 position players, 1 two-way player allowed to pitch and hit [Ohtani].
They have too many big league players and too few guys to send down to OKC. Signing Kim makes no sense unless they have a plan to unload players. [They do seem to generally know what they are doing, but then again, they make some mistakes (Syndergaard). Also, is Kim better than Kike? Really? Taylor had a .756 OPS in the second half last year (that is good for a utility player) but is being paid $13 million this year. hard to trade that contract for anything .
This article didn’t age very well.