San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim is considered one of the most captivating free agents this offseason. Despite his exceptional talent and being one of the top infield defenders in the league, Kim is recovering from significant shoulder surgery. However, due to the limited depth in the infield market, he could still secure a substantial contract.
Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball recently forecasted that Kim would depart San Diego and sign a $60 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.
“One of the most versatile free agents in this class, Ha-Seong Kim is an elite defender, who could slot in as a team’s starting shortstop, or continue to thrive in a super-utility role,” Finkelstein wrote. “Kim did undergo shoulder surgery in October and may miss the start of the season, which could dampen his market some. But in a thin free-agent class for middle infielders, Kim still stands out. “One team that could use a shortstop however is the Atlanta Braves, although the price tag may be too much for them to stomach when Orlando Arcia is making just $2 million per season. Arcia gives them a good glove at short like Kim, but he’s nowhere near the same level hitter.” In this scenario, Kim would head to Atlanta to replace struggling shortstop Orlando Arcia. Arcia was one of the worst-qualified shortstops in the league in 2024 and it’s rumored Atlanta is looking to upgrade from him. Adding Kim would be a bit of a risk, but it’s one the Braves would benefit from taking.
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