REPORT: Padres To Cut Ties with Infielder after lucrative Deal With AL Contender

San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim is one of the most intriguing free agents available this offseason. On one hand, he boasts an elite glove at shortstop and a reliable bat. However, he is coming off a significant shoulder injury, which complicates assessing his value in free agency. Kim might end up signing for less than his actual worth, possibly on a two- or three-year deal.

Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report predicts Kim could land a four-year, $60 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. In his analysis, Rymer compared Kim to San Francisco Giants infielder Willy Adames, citing similar WAR metrics over recent seasons. “This comparison is intentionally provocative,” Rymer wrote. “Adames, at his peak, is a 30-home-run slugger with Gold Glove-level defense at shortstop, while Kim excels primarily in the latter area. This assumes a full recovery from his shoulder surgery.”

Despite the injury concern, Kim’s versatility makes him valuable. Along with stellar shortstop defense, he is a strong defender at third and second base. Offensively, Kim is an elite contact hitter, ranking in the 92nd percentile for whiff rate in 2024. Unlike Adames, he also provides consistently above-average baserunning.

The Tigers would benefit from adding Kim to their roster, especially at an affordable $15 million per year. If he returns to form post-injury, he could be a steal for Detroit. However, the risk is considerable—particularly given the Tigers’ prior struggles with Javier Báez, another high-profile shortstop who hasn’t met expectations.

Detroit would need to exercise caution and conduct thorough evaluations before signing Kim, but if healthy, he could be an ideal fit for their lineup.