Orioles trades Kim Hyun-soo to Phillies

Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter said goodbye to Kim Hyun-soo in an interview with local media on the next day that Kim’s trade to the Philadelphia Phillies has been decided.

The Orioles sent Kim, left-hander Garret Cleavinger and international amateur signing bonus pool space to the Phillies on Friday (KST) in exchange for right-handed starter Jeremy Hellickson (1:2 trade). Many consider that the Orioles included Kim Hyun-soo in the deal for cash considerations to bring Hellickson, whose yearly salaries is 17.20 million dollars, in an attempt to reinforce the team’s starters.

It can be viewed that Showalter just paid lip service to Kim. The manager rarely gave Kim a chance to play. He leaves the team with a .232 batting average, one home run and 10 RBI in 56 games this season. Last year, he ended up batting .302 in 95 games. However, Trey Mancini, who was competing with Kim to be a starter, successfully found his spot on the Orioles in this year’s season with a .297 batting average, 16 home runs and 53 RBIs.

Unlike Showalter’s well-wishing comment, Kim appears to have a rough time in the Phillies as well to be a starting pitcher. The Phillies’ general manager Matt Klentak has already said that he intends to use Kim as a backup. The team's manager Pete Mackanin also said that he cannot sure how much time he could give Kim as the team has excellent outfielders already.