As it was revealed that Kim Ha-sung signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, a series of unexpected reactions are coming out.

MLB.com said on the 30th (Korea time), "Infielders Kim Ha-sung and Tampa Bay agreed to a two-year, $29 million contract. After the first season, the opt-out clause was included," adding, "The annual salary was set at $13 million, the highest in the team this year, and $16 million next year."안전놀이터

The 29 million dollars that Kim Ha-sung was guaranteed is the fifth in the Tampa Bay club's history as an FA contract and the second highest as a fielder after Greg Vaughan (four-year, 34 million dollars) in December 1999. If he has 325 at-bats or more this season, he will be given an additional 2 million dollars in bonus.

In fact, it is a "one plus one year" contract. Kim Ha-sung had to undergo a suture surgery on his right shoulder in October last year, and decided to take the chance to enter the free agent market after taking rehabilitation period of more than six months. He thus rejected the 8 million dollar mutual option with his original team, the San Diego Padres. This means that he was confident in his market value. He also replaced his agent with Scott Boras.

The market reacted steadily. More than 10 teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers reportedly called Boras to inquire about Kim Ha-sung.

However, no one knew that Tampa Bay would be connected to Kim Ha-sung. However, Kim Ha-sung will return to the team after May. Tampa Bay endured this and put the utmost effort into providing the best treatment within the team.

The Tampa Bay Times (TBT), Florida's largest media outlet in the western part of the state, reported that while he is recovering from shoulder surgery, he is expected to return in late May and will have more specific schedules depending on the rehabilitation process. When he returns healthy, he will take over as the main shortstop for the Rays. The season starts on March 29, meaning he will be absent for about two months.

As such, Tampa Bay was in an urgent need of a shortstop position. Tampa Bay has effectively been kicked out of the Major League after Wander Franco, an existing shortstop, was indicted on charges of sexual abuse and exploitation in his hometown of the Dominican Republic in July last year. It can be said that the team sought to strengthen its offense and defense capabilities by recruiting Kim Ha-sung.

TBT said, "Kim Ha-sung is an all-around player with high level of defense, aggressive base running, and strong bat skills. Over the past three years, WAR 13.2 ranks 22nd among all fielders in the same period," adding, "Kim Ha-sung can also see second and third bases, but shortstop is the main position. This is why he is a great fit for the race. Until he is ready for the end of May, the Rays will use Jose Caballero and Taylor Walls as shortstop."

In this regard, a local expert draws attention by suggesting that Kim Ha-sung will not go to the FA market at the end of this year and fill all two-year contracts.

Harold Reynolds, a broadcast commentator who won the Gold Glove three times in the 1980s and 1990s and was famous as a master second baseman, said on the day, "The race may surprise us. Eventually, they will solve the problem and become a very competitive team," but added, "Kim Ha-sung will return in May. Since the season is almost half over, the race basically pays $29 million for 1.5 years, not two years. He said, "I think he will meet the entire contract period no matter what."

In other words, since Kim Ha-sung can't play until the end of May, he will not play half of this season by missing for about two months, and no matter how good his performance this year, he expects to accept $16 million in salary next year and remain in Tampa Bay.