As the primary weekend of 2025 approaches, listed below are three issues we shall be maintaining a tally of round baseball:
1. Hyeseong Kim’s deadline to signal is quick approaching:
We don’t imply to sound like a damaged document, however there’s a superb motive why Hyeseong Kim is again on the prime of The Opener for a second day in a row. The KBO star was posted final month, and his negotiating window formally opened on December 5, giving him 30 days to signal a contract with an MLB group. He now has lower than eight hours remaining earlier than his posting window closes this afternoon at 4:00 PM CT.
MLBTR ranked Kim at no. 26 on our High 50 Free Brokers checklist this winter, predicting he’d signal a three-year, $24MM deal. Nevertheless, his title hasn’t come up in lots of rumors or experiences since he was posted. If Kim doesn’t signal immediately, he’ll return to his KBO group, the Kiwoom Heroes, for the 2025 season. As Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap Information factors out, Kim shall be an unrestricted free agent subsequent offseason, which implies he gained’t should be posted a second time if he needs to pursue an MLB profession. That might enhance his possibilities of inking a deal. Not solely will he have extra time to barter, however his new group gained’t be pressured to pay a launch charge to signal him.
2. White Sox 40-man transfer incoming:
The White Sox have a full 40-man roster, which implies they’ll want to create space for Josh Rojas earlier than they’ll finalize his signing. The free agent infielder reportedly agreed to phrases on a one-year contract with Chicago on Thursday, however the group has but to substantiate the information. Monetary particulars of the deal are one thing else to maintain a watch out for this weekend – as of immediately, they haven’t been reported.
Earlier this week, the White Sox traded for left-handed Tyler Gilbert and designated infielder Braden Shewmake for project to make room on the roster. Thus, their 40-man is at present fairly pitching heavy, that includes 24 arms and simply 16 place gamers. With that in thoughts, it appears extra probably the White Sox will lower a pitcher to unlock area for Rojas.
3. Owen White’s DFA decision:
After signing free agent reliever Hoby Milner, the Rangers DFA’d former prime prospect Owen White to make room on the 40-man roster. Since then, White has been ready in limbo. Sometimes, groups have seven days to resolve a DFA, however that timeline could be prolonged through the interval between Christmas and New Yr’s Day. Now that the vacation season is over, nonetheless, the Rangers should commerce White or place him on waivers, presumably earlier than the tip of the weekend.
