Will Kim Hye-sung be able to safely enter the infield of the Los Angeles Dodgers? Rumors of a rival's trade have surfaced.

The U.S. sports media "Sports Illustrated" cited a source on the 6th (Korea Standard Time) and said, "The New York Yankees have expressed their interest in trading for the Dodgers' Gavin Lux."

"There is still a gap in the Yankees' infield. Trade with Dodgers can help fill the vacancy," SI said. "After losing Juan Soto (who was an internal FA) to the New York Mets, the Yankees recruited other players to produce results, but there is still work to be done. Depending on where Jazaszom Jr. will be deployed, there could be a notable gap in the second or third base."메이저놀이터

"According to recent reports, after Gleyber Torres transferred to the Detroit Tigers, Chisom Jr. is likely to return to his original second baseman (from third baseman). If the Yankees fail to recruit FA third baseman Alex Bregman, they may consider bringing in second basemen through trade and putting Chisom Jr. at third base," the media said. "The source told SI that Yankees showed interest in trading Lux, the Dodgers' second basemen."

"According to sources, the Yankees showed interest in Lux a few weeks ago, and the Seattle Mariners were more active (in the Lux trade). It also seems somewhat unlikely that the Dodgers will trade with the Yankees, who were opponents of the World Series," he added.

SI said, "However, the Yankees and Dodgers have traded in recent years. Given that the Dodgers recently signed a contract with KBO League infielder Kim Hye-sung, it is reasonable to consider Lux as a trade candidate."

On the 4th, the Dodgers signed a three-plus-year, two-year contract of up to 22 million dollars (about 32.4 billion won) with Kim Hye-sung. The guarantee contract is a three-year total of 12.5 million dollars (about 18.4 billion won) and includes an option to extend the two-year contract thereafter. Minor league vetoes are reportedly excluded.

According to the details of the contract disclosed by the AP, Kim Hye-sung will first receive a $1 million (about 1.5 billion won), a down payment, if she passes a medical test.

The annual salary for the 2025 season will be 2.5 million U.S. dollars, and will be raised to 3.75 million dollars in 2026 and 2027, respectively. If he leaves the Dodgers three years later, he will receive 1.5 million dollars in buyout. If he or she signs an extension contract with the Dodgers three years later, his or her annual salary in 2028 and 2029 will increase to 5 million dollars, respectively. In addition, he or she will receive 500,000 dollars in bonuses if he or she exceeds 500 times at bat every season.

Kim, who debuted in the KBO in 2017, knocked on the door of the Major League after the end of the 2024 season. The posting was posted at noon on Dec. 4 (2 a.m. Korean time) last year. The negotiation period was from 10 p.m. on Dec. 5 to 7 a.m. on Jan. 4 in Korean time. Amid interest from multiple clubs, Kim chose the Dodgers, the winner of the 2024 World Series.

Infielder Kim Hye-sung, who challenged the U.S. Major League Baseball after the end of the 2024 season, agreed to a contract of up to $22 million for 3+2 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers on the morning of the 4th, the deadline for negotiations. MLB's official SNS

Kim has strength in defense. She mainly played second and shortstop for the original fastball team Kiwoom Heroes, and also played left field depending on situations, displaying versatile defense skills. She also won the Golden Glove Award for the fourth consecutive year from 2021 to last year, and the KBO Defensive Player Award for the second consecutive year from 2023 to last year.

Lux, the Dodgers' main second baseman, has not shown remarkable growth so far. "The Dodgers initially expected Lux to be the next shortstop, but failed to do so by showing signs of anxiety in defense. As a second baseman last year, he failed to display good defense," SI said. "Still, if we fail to recruit Bregman, Lux could be an interesting option. It is more reasonable to recruit a new player like Lux rather than finding another player inside."

"There is a chance that the Dodgers and Yankees will become trading partners again this offseason," SI concluded. If Lux leaves, Kim Hye-sung's competition for second base at the Dodgers will be much easier.