Another shortstop could soon be available and it’s one who might interest the Mets.
Jung-ho Kang, who is 27 and coming off a career year with the Nexen Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization, is expected to be posted Monday, according to a Fox Sports report.
The Mets have scouted Kang and continue to weigh whether they will enter a bid as they look to upgrade a position that has plagued them since Jose Reyes departed for Miami as a free agent.
While Kang is coming off a season in which he hit .354 with 39 home runs, 115 RBI and a 1.189 OPS, it’s worth noting the league is one in which offensive players flourish.
There are questions, also, about Kang’s defense and whether he will be able to play shortstop in the majors — or whether he would be better suited for second base.
Wilmer Flores is currently the Mets’ best option at short heading into 2015, with Ruben Tejada behind him. The duo should not give the organization much confidence, which is among the reasons why they are looking at Kang.
The Giants and Athletics are among other teams that could bid on Kang. The bidding is expected to reach the $5-10 million range. The winner would then have a 30-day window to negotiate with Kang. It is believed he’s looking for a deal of roughly four years and $24 million.
Not much else remains in free agency, with Stephen Drew, Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera still looking for work in a weak market for shortstops.