2 overrated LA Dodgers roster moves the NY Mets shouldn’t be jealous of, 1 we should

The Dodgers have been picking up what seems like every notable free agent. But the NY Mets shouldn't fret over some of their new additions, except for this one.

Oct 2, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Tanner Scott (66) throws during the sixth inning of game two in the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Oct 2, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Tanner Scott (66) throws during the sixth inning of game two in the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
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If you haven’t been living under a rock this offseason, then you know that the Los Angeles Dodgers have been scooping up free agents like they’re candy on Halloween. The New York Mets have done their fair share of new additions, especially with Juan Soto. But even with Steve Cohen’s seemingly unlimited budget, the Dodgers meanwhile have added seven players to major league contracts, along with Roki Sasaki (rules force him to sign a minor league contract).

Although fans around the league are jealous (and equally frustrated) of the Dodgers’ spending spree, the Mets shouldn’t be upset about all of their new additions.

The Hyesong Kim signing is overrated

One of the Dodgers’ newest infielders is Hyesong Kim. Kim was the best KBO batter to get posted this offseason. However, that’s because he was the only KBO batter to get posted. His numbers in South Korea weren’t bad, but they may not translate to MLB very well. Kim batted .326/.383/.458 with a .378 wOBA, and 118 wRC+ across 567 plate appearances.

Kim has never hit for much power, and his 11 home runs and .132 isolated slugging percentage were both career-bests. He has always been good at limiting strikeouts and only went down on strike three 10.9% of the time, another career-best. Kim also walked in 8.2% of his plate appearances. 

Kim was far from one of the best hitters in KBO last season. There were 89 batters with at least 300 plate appearances. He only ranked 24th in wOBA and wRC+, and 25th in OPS. He also wasn’t among the top 50 in walk rate. Kim wasn’t even top ten in either batting average (12th) or on-base percentage (18th). Since his KBO debut in 2017, Kim has the 81st best-qualified wRC+ at 107.

Kim’s scouting report is good but not great as well. Baseball America projects him as having an above-average hit and fielding tool. He is also considered a double-plus runner. His fielding is graded out as an above-average tool at 55, but his arm plays much better at second base. But with how little power he has, he has to hit for average and get on-base at a decent rate. Given that Kim wasn’t even top ten in either BA or OBP and played in a league that is much more focused on contact hitting (league average BA and OBP were .277 and .352, respectively), Kim has more questions than answers coming over to MLB.

2024 was a career year for Kim, and he didn’t even put up a 120 wRC+, and he is only a slightly above-average hitter for his career in KBO. Sure, he may have some value as a speedy utility infield type, but the Mets have two players who could arguably be better in Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuna. 

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