Kim Ha-seong has opted out of a 110 million yuan contract to become a free agent, with rumors linking him to the New York Yankees.

Kim Ha-seong, the Korean shortstop in Major League Baseball, decided to opt out of his $16 million contract option for the upcoming year (around 110 million yuan) to become a free agent. The New York Yankees are rumored to have shown interest in him.

This season, Kim Ha-seong’s appearances were greatly limited because of injuries. He played for both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves, appearing in 48 games overall, hitting 40 times including 5 home runs, driving in 17 runs, with a batting average of .234. Currently, there are reports that both the Yankees and Braves are interested in signing this Korean infielder.

The Braves’ primary shortstop this season, Nick Allen, struggled offensively with a batting average of just .221 and an overall OPS of only 0.535, indicating room for improvement. Consequently, the Braves are considering re-signing Kim Ha-seong.

Meanwhile, the Yankees’ main shortstop, Anthony Volpe, also had a disappointing season due to injuries, committing 19 defensive errors—the highest in the American League—and experiencing a slump at the plate. Additionally, he underwent left shoulder labrum repair surgery during the offseason and is expected to be unable to hit for four months and unable to field for six months. According to team assessments, he will miss the start of the 2025 season and is unlikely to return until April or May next year. The vacancy at shortstop has sparked the Yankees’ strong interest in acquiring Kim Ha-seong.