The Dodgers have agreed to a deal with Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, the team announced on Friday. The deal is for three years and a guaranteed $12.5 million with an option for 2028-29 that could increase the value of the deal to $22 million.

With Los Angeles' 40-man roster full after the team made Teoscar Hernández's return official on Friday, the Dodgers designated former top catching prospect Diego Cartaya for assignment as a corresponding move for Kim.

Kim, one of the top hitters in the KBO, was posted by his team, the Kiwoom Heroes, in early December. That marked the beginning of a 30-day window for the 25-year-old second baseman to sign with an MLB team, with a deadline of 5 p.m. ET Friday to reach an agreement. Any team willing to pay the Heroes the corresponding release fee and any applicable supplemental fees was able to negotiate with Kim.

Kim batted .304 and logged a .364 on-base percentage over eight seasons with the Heroes. Kim also stole at least 20 bases in each of the past seven seasons, reaching as high as 46 in 2021. A left-handed hitter, Kim slashed .326/.383/.458 with 11 home runs and 30 steals for Kiwoom in '24.

The Dodgers got an up-close look at Kim last March, when they played Team Korea in an exhibition game in Seoul, South Korea, before opening the season against the Padres. Kim scorched a double off the wall against L.A. righty Bobby Miller that day.

Kim, who turns 26 years old later this month, is a four-time winner of a KBO Golden Glove Award, which honors the best overall player at each position in the KBO. He won the award in each of the past three seasons at second base after claiming it at shortstop in 2021.

The addition of Kim gives the Dodgers another middle infielder, a position group where the team has a surplus of options on the 40-man roster. The plan heading into 2025 has been for Mookie Betts to play shortstop and Gavin Lux to man second base, but others who could make appearances at those positions include Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman.

Of those, Kim would appear to have the most overlap in role with Taylor and Rojas, especially because Edman should see plenty of playing time in center field. General manager Brandon Gomes reiterated at Friday's press conference to re-introduce Hernández that the Dodgers' "mindset" is to have Betts at shortstop and Lux at second base, so Kim fits in more of a utility role, making use of his strong track record with both middle-infield spots.

The Dodgers love having versatile defenders at their disposal, and chose not to get rid of their depth in that area in order to clear a spot for Kim, instead parting ways with Cartaya.

A former Top 100 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Cartaya did not have a clear path forward with the Dodgers, with Will Smith under contract through 2033 and current top prospect Dalton Rushing knocking on the door of the big leagues. Austin Barnes and Hunter Feduccia are also in the picture at catcher.

After being named the Dodgers' Minor League Player of the Year in 2022, Cartaya took a step back offensively. He reached Triple-A Oklahoma City last season and hit .208 with a .643 OPS and six homers across 49 games. Heading into his age-23 season, Cartaya has yet to appear in the Majors.