The Atlanta Braves want to keep their streak alive.
Even after season-ending injuries to stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider and Austin Riley, the Braves made the playoffs for the seventh-straight season. And now, looking forward to 2025, they hope to return once again.
Healthy returns for those injured stars could provide a big boost toward that end. But the front office might also be looking to upgrade at the everyday shortstop spot over Orlando Arcia, who slashed just .218/.271/.354 this season.
Ranking the top hitters of this winter’s free agent class for Bleacher Report, Kerry Miller highlighted the fit between the Braves and San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who seems likely to opt for free agency and a new contract this winter.
“Kim was one of just 12 players worth at least 4.9 bWAR in each of 2022 and 2023, joining Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Mookie Betts, José Ramírez, Francisco Lindor, Freddie Freeman, Julio Rodríguez, Marcus Semien, Austin Riley, Andrés Giménez and Kyle Tucker on that list of MLB’s who’s whos,” Miller wrote. “Atlanta would be a fantastic roster fit for him.”
Kim’s 2024 campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury, but he slashed .233/.330/.370 with 11 homers and 22 stolen bases in 121 games. As Miller noted, his advanced stats paint an even brighter picture. He has a career .982 fielding percentage playing all over the infield.
As such, he’s set to decline the $7 million mutual option he has with the Padres for 2025 and field offers on the open market. Spotrac projects his value at more than $49 million over four years.
With the Braves likely seeking an offensive and defensive boost for the infield, Kim could fit their 2025 roster like a glove if the two sides can agree on the right price.
“Even in a down year where he missed 41 games, he was still easily one of San Diego’s 10 most valuable players in 2024,” Miller added. “So, yeah, he can do a whole lot better than a one-year, $7M deal.”
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