Blue Jays Rumors: Toronto’s offer to Korean star could completely change offseason narrative

The Toronto Blue Jays have had a perplexing 2024-25 offseason thus far. Despite their intention to retool and become competitive again for the upcoming year, the Jays have come up short in recruiting potential big impact players while making a few questionable moves at the same time. One of those moves included acquiring infielder Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians despite already having an infield logjam heading into 2025.

That pile-up makes the latest rumors even more head-scratching, as the Blue Jays are among five teams that have made an offer to Korean star infielder Hye-Seong Kim. Kim has been primarily a second baseman with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO for the past couple of seasons, along with extensive experience playing as a shortstop. Of note is the fact that he had also seen some reps in the outfield as well, but to a way lesser extent.

Kim's decision is due on Friday, Jan. 3, prior to the expiration of his posting window.

Blue Jays Rumors: Toronto’s offer to Korean star Hye-Seong Kim could completely change offseason narrative

Last season, the 25-year-old infielder batted a solid .326 with an .841 OPS, 90 runs scored, 26 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs and 75 RBI in 127 games with the Heroes. However, Kim has been known more for being a plus-defender and his speed, rather than his power production, throughout his career. He has posted a solid .978 fielding percentage in 657 career games at second base, along with stealing a total of 211 bases over the past eight seasons in the KBO.

For a Jays team that had been desperately looking for a power bat and potential upgrades to their outfield and pitching staff throughout this winter, their interest in another light-hitting Kim sure does not make any sense - especially when they had already made a big trade for Giménez, who already is a Gold Glove-caliber defender with speed and limited power production as well. 

As a result, the pursuit of the Korean star by the Jays could ultimately mean a couple of things. With Toronto falling back on secondary and tertiary options in the free agent market now, they could be leaning more towards a rebuild in the near future rather than the projected retooling that many believed they were doing to get back into the competition. But more importantly, unless the Jays believe strongly in Kim’s 45-game experience in the outfield for his career, it looks more likely he would be used as an infielder. Therefore, by adding potentially two key future infield pieces in Giménez and Kim, it sure looks more and more like the Jays are preparing for the inevitable that involves a future without star shortstop Bo Bichette.

If that is indeed the case, then the narrative for the Jays this offseason has taken a drastic 180-degree turn, going from a team with hope to potentially a longer-term of worry, frustration and despair for the coming years.