The New York Yankees have recently moved on from Gleyber Torres, the second baseman who held the role since his 2018 debut. Torres was an American League All-Star and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting that season.
After spending seven years with the Yankees, he became a free agent and eventually signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Detroit Tigers right after Christmas. However, the Yankees still haven’t announced a clear plan to fill Torres’ spot in the middle infield with spring training fast approaching.
While the Yankees expressed interest in second baseman Gavin Lux of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lux was traded to the Cincinnati Reds instead. They also held discussions with Brendan Rodgers, a former Gold Glove winner from the Colorado Rockies, but those talks didn’t progress.
However, a new prediction from Fox Sports connects the Yankees to former San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim. Kim, who is expected to cost around $49 million over four seasons, offers a more affordable alternative to Torres’ $15 million contract with Detroit.
According to Fox Sports writer Deesha Thosar, Kim could provide the Yankees with a dynamic Gold Glove infielder, improving both their defense and offense, particularly in terms of baserunning and plate discipline. Kim’s ability to play multiple positions, including second and third base, makes him an ideal fit for the Yankees.
Kim outperformed Torres in 2024, registering a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 2.6 compared to Torres’ 1.8. On a per-162-game basis, Kim’s WAR was 3.5, significantly surpassing Torres’ 1.9. This performance suggests that Kim would be a valuable and cost-effective addition to the Yankees lineup.
