Mets: Five best international free agents the front office should consider

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - MARCH 08: A detailed view of the Franklin batting gloves worn by Juan Lagares #12 of the New York Mets during a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium on March 8, 2016 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - MARCH 08: A detailed view of the Franklin batting gloves worn by Juan Lagares #12 of the New York Mets during a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium on March 8, 2016 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – AUGUST 23: Outfielder Kim Ha-Seong #7 of Kiwoom Heroes reacts in the bottom of the ninth inning during the KBO League game between KIA Tigers and Kiwoom Heroes at the Gocheok Skydome on August 23, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) /

5) Kim Ha-Seong, Shortstop, South Korea

My Rising Apple contributing partner William Wetzel had done a great job profiling Korean star shortstop Kim Ha-Seong earlier this offseason, and how Ha-Seong could be a potential fit for the Mets in 2021. Ha-Seong was posted on December 7th by his current team the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization for Major League Baseball teams to begin the free-agent negotiating process. Teams have until January 1st to sign Ha-Seong who is part of the posting process and would count towards the organization’s Major League payroll.

I’m fairly intrigued by the 25-year old shortstop who has already established a name for himself internationally and seems to have his best baseball still ahead of him. When looking at his statistics from 2020, Ha-Seong had the best season of his young career with a .306 batting average to go along with 30 home runs, 109 RBIs, while also swiping 23 bases.

While I do believe Ha-Seong is a player that deserves a role on any team’s Major League roster based on his offensive and defensive prowess, at this point he doesn’t seem like the best fit for the team’s current roster in comparison to the other four players on this list. The Mets already have two really good young shortstops in Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, and I believe if the Mets have plans to upgrade at the shortstop position, they should go all-in on a proven Major League shortstop such as Francisco Lindor.

While Ha-Seong also has experience at other infield positions such as second base and third base, I believe Jeff McNeil is best served to go back to his natural position and be the Mets’ everyday second baseman in 2021 with Robinson Cano currently suspended. Unless J.D. Davis is moved in a trade prior to the new year I also find it hard for the Mets to invest in Ha-Seong to be their everyday third baseman when they have many other needs to fill this winter.

MLB Trade Rumors.com currently predicts that Kim Ha-Seong will sign a five-year contract worth $40 million this offseason and they have the Texas Rangers currently pegged as their favorites to sign the talented shortstop this offseason.