The Dodgers crept up on at least four other teams (Mariners, Angels, Padres, and Cubs) on Friday when they signed free agent and former KBO infielder/utilityman Hye-seong Kim to a three-year, $12.5 million deal just a few hours before his window to sign closed. LA hadn’t made their interest in him public up to that point, but they did get a good look at Kim during their trip to Seoul last March when they played his former team, the Kiwoom Heroes, in an exhibition match.
Kim’s contract also includes a two-year option for 2028 and 2029, which would allow him to make up to $22 million. It’s likely that his signing closes the door on a potential reunion with Kiké Hernández, and it might also threaten Gavin Lux’s future, though the Dodgers are still standing by him at second base and planning to use Kim as a superutilityman (for now, at least).
With the clock ticking down to finalizing a deal and the Dodgers’ 40-man full, they had to make quick decision on who to cut. Michael Grove might’ve seemed like the easiest option, as a guy who’s never been able to make it work in the majors, but no — they designated former No. 1 prospect Diego Cartaya for assignment to make room for Kim.
The Dodgers made the Hyeseong Kim signing official.
Diego Cartaya was designated for assignment.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 3, 2025
Dodgers make Hye-seong Kim signing official, designate former top-100 prospect Diego Cartaya for assignment
Cartaya was LA’s top prospect and No. 14 in all of baseball as recently as 2023. However, hopes quickly diminished after a pretty terrible year in Double-A, when he batted .189 with a .657 OPS and was sent to the Development List at the end of August. He dropped down to No. 16 in 2024 and was out of MLB’s top-100 altogether by 2024.
He continued to struggle at Double-A but was promoted to Triple-A anyway, and he finished the season with a .221 average and .686 OPS. His future in the majors, at least with the Dodgers, looked grim, especially given Dalton Rushing’s ascendency and LA’s decision to go to Hunter Feduccia as their backup-backup catcher in the majors.
That might be the only potential silver lining for him: he might have a better shot at getting to the majors elsewhere. It seems likely he’ll be claimed off of waivers by someone who remembers how highly-touted he used to be, but it’s a stunning reflection of how disenchanted the Dodgers have become with him.
