Mariners about to find out if pursuit of infielder is a success

The Mariners are one of three MLB teams to make an offer to Hyeseong Kim, with a deadline of 2 p.m. PT on Jan. 3 for him to make a decision.

It’s no secret that the Seattle Mariners need help in their infield, especially at second and third base. As such, there is understandable angst within the fan base, that the ball club has yet to make a signing to rectify this situation.

However, we could be on the verge of at least one solution. Giving due credit to Teren Kowatsch of Sports Illustrated, the Mariners are reportedly one of three teams to make an offer for Hyeseong Kim.

As one of the better free agents in this class, Kim would prove to be an intriguing signing for the Mariners. He is a 3-time KBO Golden Glove Award winner, which includes being the only player in KBO history to win the accolade at both shortstop and second base.

What about Kim’s bat?

Of course the Mariners would also be looking for some offense from the 25-year-old. Along these lines, he has a career .304 batting average and .766 OPS in eight years of KBO action, including .326 and .841 respectively last season.

In addition, Kim can also cause chaos when he reaches base, with his penchant for stealing. He led the KBO in stolen bases with a career-high 46 in 2021, and last season snagged another 30.

The Mariners and their fans won’t have to wait much longer, to find out if they have been successful in their pursuit of the Gyeonggi, South Korea native. He has a deadline of 2 p.m. PT on Jan. 3, to decide if he will agree to sign with one of the three MLB clubs pursuing him.

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Money talks, but how much?

As for the Mariners’ chances of being the successful club, it really comes down to if money is the determining factor in Kim’s decision. As per Kowatsch, KBO Trade Rumors took to social media to report that the three offers are all for three years, at $15 million or less.

The additional detail which may (will) concern fans, is that the Mariners’ offer is not the highest. This makes sense given they apparently have around $15 million in payroll space, which does compromise their options if correct.

As such, it depends if the Mariners have the most appeal overall among the three clubs competing for Kim, to entice him to sign with them. In this respect, fans have to hope the combination of the city, facilities, premium rotation and being a genuine playoff contender, can persuade him to move to Seattle.

Certainly, the left-handed bat’s addition would be an excellent boost for the club, as they aim to kick-start their offseason and strengthen the roster. It would also help Jerry Dipoto, who re-signed with the Mariners, but is reportedly on a short-term ‘prove it’ deal.

How confident are you that the Mariners will be successful in signing Kim? And if they do, what level of success do you predict for him in Seattle? Let us know in the comments section below.