An intriguing second baseman is expected to be posted this off-season.
On Tuesday, Jeeho Yoo reported that 25-year-old Korean second baseman Hyeseong Kim is expected to be posted after American Thanksgiving on Thursday.
Last season for the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization, Kim slashed .326/.383/.458 with a career-high 11 home runs in 567 plate appearances, along with an 8.3 BB% and a 10.9 K% for a 118 wRC+. His career year came in 2023, as he slashed .335/.396/.446 with seven home runs in 621 plate appearances, along with a 9.2 BB% and a 12.4 K% for a 137 wRC+. Moreover, Kim is quick on the base paths, stealing 30 bases in 36 attempts last season.
As for teams interested in the 26-year-old, the Seattle Mariners are reported to be interested in Kim according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
Kim is one of many intriguing infielders in the free agent market, including fellow Korean Ha-Seong Kim who spent his last four seasons with the San Diego Padres.

Nolan Arenado is open to moving to first base

According to The Athletic’s Katie Woo, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is open to moving to first base for roster flexibility.
Arenado’s name has been mentioned in trade rumours in recent times, as the Cardinals look to cut their payroll. However, the third baseman has a no-move clause and is far from the player he used to be with the bat, as he slashed .272/.325/.394 with 16 home runs in 635 plate appearances for a 102 wRC+.
His last well-above-average season came in 2022, where he slashed .293/.358/.533 with 30 home runs in 620 plate appearances for a 149 wRC+ and a 7.2 fWAR. Arenado’s glove at third base is still terrific though, as he accumulated 6 Defensive Runs Saved and 9 Outs Above Average in 1268.1 innings at third base.
For his career, Arenado has 162 DRS and 106 OAA in 14019.2 innings at third base, so moving him off third to play first makes no sense. Especially considering his bat has declined drastically over the past two seasons.

Blake Snell signs with the Dodgers

Late on Tuesday evening, it was reported by numerous sources that left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a five-year deal worth $182 million, with $60 million of that deferred.
The Blue Jays reportedly had an interest in Snell, and for good reason. Last season with the San Francisco Giants, the 31-year-old lefty had a 3.12 ERA and a 2.43 FIP in 104 innings pitched, along with a 34.7 K% and a 10.5 BB%. Coming into the 2024 season, he was the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner.
With the San Diego Padres in 2023, Snell had a 2.25 ERA and a 3.44 FIP in 180 innings pitched, along with a 31.5 K% and a 13.3 BB% for a 4.2 fWAR. In the two seasons he has pitched more than 130 innings, he won a Cy Young Award, as he also won one with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018.
The issue with Snell throughout his career has been health. After signing a contract with the Giants in Spring Training, he hit the Injured List twice before eventually pitching to his usual standards when returning from his second stint.
As it stands, the best remaining starters on the market are left-handed pitcher Max Fried and right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes. However, Rōki Sasaki will be posted in the 2025 international free agency period and every team will be interested in the 23-year-old.

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