I don't need an expensive glass body! Shocking! Tampa Bay's clear message of resignation released by Kim Ha-sung has a fatal stain on his career

Sep 02, 2025

'We got it wrong. Kim Ha-sung is a failed FA

The Tampa Bay Rays eventually made a 'FA failure declaration' in seven months. The decision reflects the willingness to reduce the amount of loss at all while acknowledging that their value judgment was fundamentally wrong. In early February, Kim Ha-sung (30), who was recruited for two years - $29 million (about 40.4 billion won), was released in just seven months.

Although he had more than a year left on his contract, the Tampa Bay club made a clear decision. It contains a definite message. I don't need an expensive glass body' is a thing. This is the real reason Tampa Bay abandoned Kim Ha-sung.

MLB.COM, the official website of Major League Baseball, announced on the 2nd (Korea time) 'Tampa Bay club waivers Kim Ha-sung. Atlanta then hired Kim Ha-sung as a waver claim' reported. Tampa Bay's release of Kim Ha-sung and Atlanta's recruitment of Kim Ha-sung are different cases.

In other words, Tampa Bay did not trade Kim Ha-sung on Atlanta's offer, but not only did the team not need it, but also what they had was considered a loss. Atlanta gave Kim Ha-sung a new opportunity after being released like that. It is a condition that he will pay $16 million in annual salary next season, which was guaranteed when signing with Tampa Bay for the remaining salary of $2 million in the season.

First of all, from Kim Ha-sung's point of view, it may seem that there is no immediate financial loss. Contracts and salaries are guaranteed until next year, so you can finish the 2026 season well and challenge the FA market once again.

However, in reality, there is a big stain on the career. This is because Tampa Bay's decision to release Kim Ha-sung was labeled 'expensive glass body'. No matter how outstanding I am, it is difficult to be valued if I am judged 'free body' on the major league stage. It is safe to say that few clubs will give long-term contracts or large sums to players who are judged to be unable to continue their performance for a long time.

Tampa Bay's decision informed the market that Kim Ha-sung is this kind of character.

Kim Ha-sung has had a fairly successful MLB career since his debut with the San Diego Padres in 2021. Based on stable infield multi-defense capabilities, he consistently showed his ability to steal bases and hit with one shot. Above all, he showed a healthy physical without minor injuries and quickly became a key player in San Diego.

The peak of his career was when he won the Gold Glove in the National League Utility category in 2023. At this time, there was a prospect that if it appeared in the FA market, it could sign a contract worth $100 million (about 139.2 billion won). This is because the Hotajun's infield defense specialist is a very valuable product in the FA market.

However, during the 2024 season, Kim Ha-sung's career faced a major crisis due to his shoulder injury. Kim Ha-sung, who ended the season early and underwent shoulder surgery, gave up his $8 million salary option with San Diego and came to the FA market.

Since it is impossible to join the opening of the 2025 season anyway, he decided that he would have to pay $8 million to San Diego to reduce his range of movements after the end of the season. Fortunately, Kim Ha-sung signed with Tampa Bay for two years and $29 million, allowing him to gain time to challenge the FA market again through a comeback.

However, the problem is that the way he has shown since his return this year has completely changed from the past. For now, he still hasn't regained his touch in terms of hitting. It was difficult even to make 'one shot' itself, let alone one shot'. Kim Ha-sung, who returned to the Major League in early July, appeared in only 24 games in about two months despite receiving the highest annual salary ($13 million) in the Tampa Bay team, hitting only 0.214 with two home runs and five RBIs.

Above all, Kim Ha-sung no longer had the hard durability of the past. The calf injury occurred before his return, and since then, hamstring and back pain have continued, making him on the injured list (IL) twice. On Aug. 21, he was taken off the entry due to back pain and was on the IL.

In the end, Tampa Bay decided to cut Kim Ha-sung off.

As for the reasons for releasing Kim Ha-sung, President of Tampa Bay Baseball Eric Nieder explained on MLB.COM, `The difficulties of Kim Ha-sung, who continues to suffer from injuries, Tampa Bay's position in the playoff race, and the opportunity to evaluate top prospect Carson Williams during the final month of the regular season.'

If this is interpreted more easily, it can be interpreted as 'I would rather cut off Kim Ha-sung and give more opportunities to prospects at a time when the team's highest salary cannot continue to play properly due to injuries and the team is less likely to advance to the postseason' He admits that Kim Ha-sung's FA recruitment failed.

In fact, it can be said that Kim Ha-sung was treated as a 'throwaway card'. At least, Kim Ha-sung was chosen by Atlanta to continue his MLB career. He will also be guaranteed a considerable salary next year.

However, it is difficult to expect a big FA hit as long as it has already been labeled 'expensive glass body'.

The only solution is to join Atlanta from the 3rd and continue to be strong in offense and defense in 2026 after performing tremendously for the rest of the season. He should play more than 150 games in good health and reproduce the same performance as in 2023. Otherwise, it is highly likely to become FAMIA.

Prior to that, if Atlanta is vulnerable to injury for the rest of this year or fails to find improvement in hitting, the possibility of being traded or released from the Stove League cannot be ruled out. As such, Tampa Bay's decision to release can be interpreted as a fatal blow to Kim Ha-sung's career.

Reporter Lee Won-man wman@sportschosun.com

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.