“I want to recruit more infielders.”
The Boston Red Sox is a team that has been steadily connected since Kim Ha-seong was put up for trade. Zander Bogarts, the starting shortstop, signed an 11-year, $280 million contract with San Diego and became a teammate of Ha-sung Kim. Trevor Story, who played second base last year to fill Bogarts’ spot, was looking to move to shortstop but underwent elbow ligament surgery. It is expected that he will be able to return in the middle of this season.
It was Boston with a big hole around the infield center line, and Kim Ha-seong, whose chances could be reduced compared to last year with the signing of Bogatz and the addition of first base and platoon resource Matt Carpenter, was the perfect player for Boston in need of a shortstop. The key question was what San Diego would want in return for Boston, but it was only natural that rumors of a trade were brewing inside and outside the club.
But Boston has turned its attention elsewhere. On the 25th (hereinafter Korean time), he acquired infielder Adalberto Mondesi (28) from the Kansas City Royals. It was a condition of giving reliever Josh Taylor and a later designated player or cash.
As the son of Raul Mondesi, who played an active role as a central hitter during Park Chan-ho’s LA Dodgers days, he made his debut in Kansas City in 2016 and has a total of 358 games for 7 seasons, batting average of 2.44, 311 hits, 38 homers, 157 RBIs, 133 steals, OPS .687. left He left an impact of his own, recording a personal record of 14 homers in 2018 and 43 stolen bases in 2019.
However, in the last two seasons, he suffered from injuries, and at the end of April last year, he was out for the season due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. It is unclear whether he will join the opening match at this time. Boston general manager Haim Bloom said after the announcement of the Mondesi trade, “Mondesi’s rehabilitation still has a long way to go. If we have a chance, we would like to add more infielders.”
‘MLB Trade Rumors’ said, ‘The switch hitter’s infielder was named on the injured list 4 times out of the past 5 seasons and was out for the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 15 games last year.’ 메이저사이트 It hinted at the possibility of being delayed.”
Even if Mondesi is not included in the opening day lineup, Kike Hernandez will be the shortstop for now. Boston is looking at Kike as their starting shortstop right now. ‘MLB Trade Rumors’ said, ‘Kike has a shortstop career of 618 innings over 9 seasons. General defensive metrics were rated as solid defenders. He’s played second base and center field more, but Boston is confident he can take the athleticism of a shortstop,’ he explained. When Mondesi returns, he will most likely play second base.
However, the number of infielders itself is absolutely insufficient. The free agency market has infielders such as Elvis Andrews, Jose Iglesias and Jonathan Villa. You can also find an infielder in the trade market. ‘MLB Trade Rumors’ listed Tony Kemp (Oakland), Nick Madrigal (Chicago Cubs), and Nikki Lopez (Kansas City) as trade candidates, but it is true that there is no sale like Kim Ha-seong for sure reinforcement.
Boston still needs an infielder, including a shortstop. The North American sports media ‘The Athletic’ predicted the possibility of Kim Ha-sung’s trade as 25%. It doesn’t seem very likely, but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. The fire of Kim Ha-sung’s trade has not yet been extinguished.