BREAKING: Padres set to Reunite with Key All-Star Infielder

According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres are likely to re-sign their former shortstop.

In his latest analysis, Bowden states, “After season-ending shoulder surgery, Kim has found that his free-agent value isn’t as high as he expected. He’ll likely need to agree to a short-term deal, prove his health next season, and aim to replicate his 5.8 WAR performance from 2023.”

While Kim has drawn interest from other teams, including the San Francisco Giants—who ultimately signed Willy Adames—his return to the Padres appears to be the most logical fit. Currently, Kim is in the recovery phase following offseason shoulder surgery.

Ha-seong Kim Free Agency: Predicting the Shortstop’s Next Move

In addition to the Padres, the Boston Red Sox have emerged as a potential landing spot for Ha-seong Kim. The Red Sox could utilize Kim to address their shortstop vacancy, allowing Trevor Story to stay at second base. This setup would also provide prospects Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell more time to develop in Triple-A.

Despite these alternatives, Jim Bowden of The Athletic remains convinced that the Padres are the best fit for Kim.

“Without a doubt, the best fit for Kim is still the Padres,” Bowden writes. “They are a much stronger team with Kim at shortstop and Xander Bogaerts at second base, compared to the alternative of Bogaerts returning to shortstop.”

Reuniting Kim and Bogaerts in the middle infield would create a formidable duo for the Padres, enhancing their lineup stability and defensive strength.

Kim’s Free Agency Impact

Ha-seong Kim’s free agency is further complicated by his season-ending shoulder injury, which is expected to keep him sidelined for most, if not all, of the first half of the upcoming season. This limits his market, as only a handful of teams are willing to invest in a player who won’t be available for a significant portion of the year. However, at full health, Kim’s return to the team where he began his MLB career would be an exciting development.

After signing with the San Diego Padres out of South Korea in 2021, Kim quickly became a fan favorite. Over four seasons, he has compiled a solid .242/.326/.380 slash line with 47 home runs and earned the National League’s utility Gold Glove Award in 2023.