After an underwhelming 2021 rookie season, Ha-Seong Kim has emerged as a standout big leaguer over the last two years, posting an 8.1 fWAR due to his combination of above-average (109 wRC+) hitting, excellent baserunning, and top-tier defense. The Padres have certainly gotten a great return on the four-year, $28MM contract they signed to attract Kim from the KBO League during the 2020-21 offseason, yet with Kim now entering the final year of that deal, his time in San Diego could be running short.
While a mutual option is in place for the 2025 season, such options are almost never exercised by both parties, and the 28-year-old Kim seems like a lock to again hit the open market next winter now that he has an established MLB track record. If the Padres don’t feel they can extend or re-sign the infielder, a trade remains a possibility, and The Athletic’s Dennis Lin writes that “internally, at least, San Diego has been discussing the idea for weeks.”
Whether or not a trade actually happens remains to be seen, as a Padres official told Lin that the return would need to be “way above the line” to get the club to actually move Kim. In addition, Kim will also naturally be one of the centerpieces of the season-opening two-game series between the Padres and Dodgers in Seoul on March 20-21, and Lin doubts that the Friars take the awkward position of moving a Korean star prior to the first MLB regular-season games to ever take place in South Korea.
That being said, adding multiple long-term assets for one year of Kim’s services is obviously a tempting concept for a Padres team that has a lot of needs to address. Trading Kim would create a big hole in San Diego’s infield, though the team is still in dire need of outfielders and as many as two starting pitchers to slot behind Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and the newly-acquired Michael King. The high cost of pitching would make signing a starter more expensive for the Padres than perhaps signing an infielder as a stopgap Kim replacement, plus top prospect Jackson Merrill could be part of the big league infield picture at some point in 2024.
Cost-cutting has been one of the major storylines of the San Diego offseason, and since the Padres seem to be stepping back from their financial splurges of the last couple of seasons, retaining Kim looks like less of a possibility. The team is reportedly looking to reduce spending to around $200MM in payroll in 2024, and ideally get under the $237MM luxury tax threshold if possible. After signing Yuki Matsui and Woo Suk Go to upgrade the bullpen, the Padres are projected (via Roster Resource) to have a $156.3MM payroll and a tax number of just under $212MM, so there isn’t a ton of flexibility for the team to add meaningful outfield and rotation help.
Kim is a big part of this financial picture, in the sense that he’s quite a bargain at only an $8MM salary. Since Manny Machado might be limited to early-season DH duty while he recovers from elbow surgery, Kim carries even greater import within San Diego’s infield, as he might be needed to handle third base while Machado heals up. Jake Cronenworth would likely move first base to second base in the event of a Kim trade, but that would then leave the Padres in need of a first baseman and at least a temporary replacement at the hot corner.
It isn’t a reach to suggest that Kim might be just about the most prized trade asset on the market if the Padres made him available, as Lin notes that the Friars have already drawn “widespread interest” in Kim from rival teams. Though he primarily played second base last season, Kim won the NL utility Gold Glove for his all-around defensive work at second, third, and shortstop. Considering how many contenders and would-be contenders have a need at at least one of these infield positions, up to half the league could be seen as plausible suitors to bid on Kim, even if some teams are better equipped than others to meet San Diego’s high asking price.
Kim’s $8MM salary might fit the budget of smaller-market teams like the Rays, Guardians, Pirates, or Royals, though perhaps only Tampa (who has a long history of trades with the Padres) is the only true World Series contender of that group that might be inspired to make an all-in move to land Kim. The Brewers, Blue Jays, Mariners, Giants, Angels, Tigers, Cubs, and Marlins all have holes to fill in their infield, even if San Francisco might be less likely if San Diego doesn’t want to deal Kim within the NL West. Clubs like the Twins, Braves, Yankees, Red Sox, or Phillies are more speculative candidates since another infielder probably would have to be moved to create space for Kim, but an aggressive play can’t be ruled out.
Though Kim is only under contract for 2024, some teams might view him as a longer-term opportunity if they feel they have a chance to extend or re-sign him next offseason. Even if clubs could also see a Kim trade as strictly a move for the coming season, he is certainly a candidate to receive a qualifying offer, so a team could recoup a draft pick as compensation if he signed elsewhere.
towinagain
No.
acoss13
Should have used that Bogaerts money on pitching instead. But, at least Padres were going for it, just allocated it to an area that wasn’t a need I think.
Humm bumms
Let’s go Giants
truthlemonade
Would it be seen as gauche for SD and another team to agree to a trade before the season, but don’t announce it until after the first two games in South Korea?
So, basically Kim spends spring training with SD, and the first two games, then the other team gets 160 games with Kim?
Ha-Seong Kim
Why would another team agree to this?
truthlemonade
Take it or leave it.
Murphy NFLD
The idea crossed my mind to, but it is a little weird. It would have to be he’s traded for PTBNL and goes to said team for ST, deal in place to play 2 for Padres. If he gets hurt then said PTBNL are nobody’s or a lot less then if he doesn’t get hurt. Would have to have wording about PTBNL is X if Kim misses more then 6 weeks due to injury that happened during loan. Something along that
Joel P
Didn’t the Padres sign another Korean a reliever? Maybe they can sign Shin Soo Choo for a day…..
UncommonSense
He Sop Choi is available
King123
Now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time, a long time.
deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger
Baseball reference states the mutual “option” is for $1 and has a buyout of 2 MM, which I think should be added to the article. I always assumed the AAV would be 7 MM, regardless of the buyout structure. What is SD gaining from structuring the contract that way?
Bucket Number Six
The details are not known. The $1 is a placeholder. Cot’s has estimates for 2022-2025 in their summary, too.
dankyank
Of course every team would trade any player for the “right offer” but that doesn’t make Kim a realistic trade candidate. For what he provides at $7 million the Padres would have to receive an obvious overpay. Opposing GMs won’t be willing to overpay for a single season of a player whose price is going to easily triple in free agency.
Trading Kim would be idiotic, even by AJ Preller’s standards.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Except Brian Cashman who traded for Juan Soto, right?
dankyank
Why even entertain the idea? I didn’t like the Soto trade but it addressed a clear need. Middle infield is one of the more stable areas of the team.
YankeesBleacherCreature
So should have the Yankees addressed a clear need by trading for Soto or not? And is Cashman the only GM willing to trade for a one-year rental? I’m failing to under your position.
JoeBrady
So should have the Yankees addressed a clear need by trading for Soto or not?
=========================
Probably not at the expense of creating a new need. Now their OF is Judge, Soto, Verdugo, Grisham and, at some point, Dominguez.
1984wasntamanual
It didn’t even create a need, it increased an already existing one. Soto is a good player and I suppose I can understand a team overpaying for him if they think they’re in their contention window, but the Yankees gave up pitching when they already needed more pitching. The offseason isn’t over, so maybe they expect to add more, but right now they have Rodon who is a ? and they added Stroman, who is also a ?. That is not a rotation I’d have a ton of faith in.
That trade really didn’t make a ton of sense IMO.
Salzilla
Well overpaying for Soto and overpaying for Kim are like apples and oranges. I didn’t love it, but what Soto brings is elite in comparison.
That said, I like HSK alot and he’ll most likely move at the deadline.
Jean Matrac
The Soto and Kim situations aren’t comparable. Soto is being paid $31M, and Kim $7M. SD wanted to reduce salary. Trading Soto was a no-brainer, as is not trading Kim.
Yankee Clipper
I think a major part of the discussion that’s missing is the executive direction to Preller. The article suggests it is highly unlikely that Kim is traded, understandably. But, if the current ownership wants to begin stockpiling talent to reduce payroll, then it is entirely plausible that Preller moves Kim for the best return he can get.
In fact, one team (also listed among the many suitors) that strikes me as a great candidate for trading with SDP is Miami. They’re loaded with pitching (which seems to be a need for SD) and they’re in need of a SS.
Ashley69
Be nice to be playing for the Braves …
Braves4410
Would become the starting SS upon arrival!
Habitual Truth Teller
Cool. Send the padres
RHP Waldrep #100 on mlb top 100
RHP Darius Vines #9
1B/3b David McCabe #14
C Drake Baldwin #26
OFJesse Franklin V #20
vacommish
Agreed. I like Arcia as a super utility more than SS, though as fine with him remaining. Just for fun, I wonder what a return package would require?
thefallensoldier
And padres fans still in denial about the teams financial situation
El Niño
How so? Padre stated they are resetting the luxury tax which appears to be the main strategic priority. The CEO said a couple weeks ago the padres are in fine shape revenue-wise to field similar payroll moving forward.
websoulsurfer
The Padres have not said anything other than that they will not have a $291 million CBT payroll. An ARTICLE said that “people familiar with the Padres thinking” said they PREFER to stay under the CBT for 2024, but that they might not for the right players.
BIG problem is that most people read the headlines, but not the article and almost never the articles that are referenced by this site.
Gwynning
They’re a Top 5 payroll, what financial situation? Resetting the CBT line is verboten?
websoulsurfer
When the Dodgers did it a few years ago they were brilliant. When the Padres do it they are broke.
Do you know why the Padres are not signing any FA that got a QO? Most people have no clue. They think its because the Padres are broke.
It is because as a revenue sharing payor that went over the CBT last season, the Padres would have to give up international free agent pool money. That would mean they could not sign Leo DeVries.
For anyone that does not know who he is, DeVries is the #1 international prospect. mlb.com/prospects/2024/international/leo-de-vries-…
Brew88
He’ll immediately slot in among Snelling and Lesko giving the Pads 5 prospects ranked in MLB top 50.
Simm
That’s not true, padres signed Xander last year and lose international pool money this year and still sign Vries. Or does reduce what they can do but doesn’t mean they can’t still sign top guys.
Simm
Brew prob not immediately. Even Salas took a bit of time before they even added him to the list. Some reports say they may move Vries on the list quicker and he will likely be in the at range once scouts get a better look at him in pro ball.
Deleted Userr
Padres signing Xander reduced their bonus pool from the last signing period not the current one. And yes, it reduces what they can do but doesn’t bar them from the international market as a whole.
Simm
It literally is reduced this year. Signing period just started if they signed a QO guy this offseason it would affect next year not this year that has already started and spent most of their money.
JoeBrady
The Padres needed both a SS
==========================
It’s an interesting strategy to devote almost 100% of your budget to one player.
Brew’88
@ Simm. I wasn’t thinking immediately, but within a year. Salas hit #5 MLB in less than a year. De Vries likely to be top 50. Been reading up on his skills/physical ability – off the charts.
websoulsurfer
Padres have 6 in the Top 100 now.
Salas
Merrill
Snelling
Lesko
Zavala
Thorpe
Iriarte is in other top 100 lists and probably will make the MLB list when the preseason updates come out in March and possibly Mazur and Head as well . If De Vries also is added to the top 100 that could mean the Padres have as many as 10 in the top 100.
Preller can definitely find and sign great prospects.
fljay73
Rays should pass on 1 year of Kim. They already made a trade to address the SS spot & they have C. Williams in the minors who is a year or 2 away.
agnes gooch
Get him Zaidi!
SDpapa
Two trade scenarios that I’ve seen floating around some message boards
Marlins get: Kim
Pads get: SP Edward Cabrera/OF Jesus Sanchez
and
Red Sox get: Kim
Pads get: OF Wilyer Abreu/IF Pablo Reyes/#13 1B/3B Blaze Jordan
Logical answer is yes they should… however, it would pose a really awkward situation right before the anticipated South Korea series.
Joel P
The Padres are in a tough spot. It probably would make sense to trade Kim but to who and for what? Teams do need shortstop and the Padres certainly can spare one.
Marlins need one but they probably want one with more team control.
What contending team needs help at shortstop? The Dodgers perhaps but I imagine the Padres aren’t trading with them.
What other contending team needs shortstop help? Giants do but again probably not trading with the Giants.
AG7
He’d look so good on the Atlanta infield. Are they looking for position players, young pitching or mostly money?
Javia135
OF and starting pitching.
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
Lefty bats and starting pitching. Their only true mlb outfielder right now is Tatis.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Braves got Noone left to trade. All 18 prospects got sent over for Bummer
Zippy the Pinhead
If the Dipoto Medicine Show would get back on the road where they’re not just picking up cheap hitchhikers, Kim would be an excellent pickup. Send the Padres (a many time trade partner and co-owner of the spring training site in Peoria) Emerson Hancock, Josh Rojas, and Luis Urias for Kim and Adam Mazur. Then move Kim to 3B and sign Whit Merrifield. Done.
Zippy the Pinhead
BTW, that’s 2 IF starters and a potential 5th starter for Kim and a good AA prospect.
Javia135
The Padres already had Luis Urias and traded him. They also have too many IF, which is why they are shopping Kim. Rojas has a 92 LIFETIME OPS+ and Hancock has lost 3-4mph since his real prospect days. There are no starters in that package. No thx!
Sal66
A trade won’t happen until Manny is healthy enough to play 3rd base in late March or April.
And that’s a good thing because the Padres can use Spring Training to determine their greatest needs. Can Vasquez, Brito, Avila, Waldron, or Thorpe crack the starting rotation? Can Marsee or Merrill start in the outfield? Azocar in CF? Sign Profar?
Once the dust settles and the Korean opener is done, trade Kim for the greatest need(s).
padrepapi
I think Eguy Rosario playing every day at 3b while Manny is on the mend would be perfectly fine. He’s ready for an extended look and his bat upside is probably somewhat comparable to what Ha-Seong Kim has hit the last two years. I think he could turn into an important part of this team for the next several years and hope he gets some serious action in ’24. 3000 PA’s in the minors with an OPS not too far south of .800. Gotta give those homegrowns a chance to be big leaguers for us and not the Mariners or Guardians, etc.
Matthew Batten had a .355 OBP in his 139 PA’s with the Padres last year and would be another internal stopgap to cover 3b.
Marsee and Merrill should be 2nd half guys at the earliest, same with Thorpe.
dgonzo13
Pads can use Batten and Rosario or even give prospect Merrrill or Pauley at 3B while Manny is out. I would rather sign Jankowski than Profar at this point. Profar can only be usefull in left while Jankowski can help in center aswell. I do see the Korea series as an obstacle for an early trade.
websoulsurfer
#1 thing to keep in mind. To contend, the Padres need Kim. They already traded Soto to fill other positions and trading Kim would hurt the team’s chances of contending. Batten would not provide enough to make it worth playing him at 3B for even a month. Yes, the Padres are looking to contend. They can’t wait another year or just play the prospects because their stars are all over 30 other than Tatis. So Kim will not be traded.
Batten at DH would be a 18% improvement over all the different guys that played DH not named Machado last season. In 553 PA all the other DH for the Padres in 2023 hit .195 with an 83 OPS+. Machado hit .289 with a 124 OPS+ in his 142 PA.
If you have seen Pauley play defense at 3B, you know that is not an option. If you said try him as a platoon at DH, that would be an option.
Kim will play 3B if Machado is not ready to start the season at the position.
Merrill is not a 3B. If you said he could fill in at 2B while Kim plays 3B, that would be a possibility, but in all reality, Merrill needs more and regular at bats in AA. He has only had 187 AB above A ball. Pushing him would be stupid.
Merrill MAY be traded if it’s for a top line starter though. Preller has shown he is willing to trade prospects that are not at a position of need for MLB players that are.
vpsd
Fwiw – reports are manny is ahead of schedule. He may not miss any time.
Hired Gun 23
They have money. Just not the money that they spent over the last few years. I hope they realize they can use the farm system for replacements and not just trade bait. I know it’s still a gamble but with the financials not in their favor, it’s a route that has to be taken. By the way, they broke the season ticket holder record set last year. Goes to show the interest hasn’t died down…
Frenchredsox
Every team has “money” but that money is used on multiple players and whether you like it or not they cannot financially pay top 5 payroll when income sits them in the middle of the pack not in Yankee or Dodger territory. Season Ticket (since 50 years) is only part of the equation- TV deals far outweigh it as does sponsorship and personal (owner) investment.
El Niño
Please share where you think you are getting revenue figures. That is not publicly available to my knowledge.
vpsd
What we can definitively say is the padres have grown their revenue the last few years to become revenue sharing payors. They are definitely making enough to support ~ 200M payroll.
Hired Gun 23
Not disputing what you’re saying French. They have to manage the money within their means. I included the interest in the team to show that most fans aren’t giving up on this team. And that is something…
vpsd
The Padres TV deal was ~ 50m annually and they just sold more than 3m tickets at one of the highest average ticket costs in the league (statista cites $140). Ticket prices are going up 20% this season and season tickets are sold out.
I’ll let you do the math and see if you still think their TV deal is worth more than ticket sales.
websoulsurfer
Padres TV deal with DSG was going to pay them $52 million in 2023 and 2024.
MLB committed to paying all teams 80% of lost revenue if their RSN defaulted on payments or went out of business.
We know from filings in the DSG bankruptcy case that MLB paid the Padres 80% of the $8.67 million payment scheduled to be paid to them in May that DSG defaulted on and that after that they did not have to make another payment to the Padres. That means the Padres didn’t lose any more revenue.
The reason is that the Padres knew this was coming and had contracts already negotiated with the cable, satellite and streaming carriers they were on before, Cox, Spectrum, DIRECTV, and Fubo, and they added Spectrum Hawaii. They added 2 million TV households to their TV market. They were back on the air the very next day with MLB doing the game production. In other words, providing the equipment to produce the game.
The Padres also were then able to sell the single team MLB.tv packages that are not blacked out locally. They sold 250k in the first month and earned nearly $20 million worth of those Padres only MLB streaming packages.
After all was said and done, the Padres ended up being a revenue sharing payor and had a revenue that was in excess of $440 million.
NEXT season the Padres have already surpassed last season’s season ticket sales and after the holiday presale of single game tickets they had Nov 20 to Dec 4 there are only a few mid-week games that are not already fully sold out. Fan interest in SD is through the roof. Padres will have attendance over 3 million again.
websoulsurfer
They put 2000 twenty game season ticket plans on sale up in the nose bleed sections instead of opening them up to single game ticket sales and sold them out in 3 days. There are still 4,000 people on the waiting list.
DanUgglasRing
I hope the Giants can make it happen but obviously I think it’s a long shot.
Big whiffa
Cubs have pitching depth. Wesneski and Jordan wicks should get it done.
Big whiffa
If cubs add pitching – it’ll be of higher quality than the likes of wesneski or wicks. And they still have need for infield help. Hard to find a fit for padres but 2 young pitchers w control make sense if they don’t have funds for free agency.
Also, I’m not a cubs fan. You shouldn’t profile people. Especially when u r not very good at it
JoeBrady
The Padres might do better, but that is a decent package. Those two guys have a chance to stick in the rotation. Even if they were just a #3 and #6, that’s a lot of value.
Red Sox Restoration Project
Padres shouldn’t trade him. If they do, Red Sox should be in on this.
It could potentially allow Devers to DH or help us in so many ways.
Red Sox Restoration Project
Didn’t realize his contract is only one more year
AshamedMethGoat
Isn’t Ha-Seong a fan favorite in SD? Not that it matters much when economics now takes center stage for the Padres, but in an off-season that has seen the club take hit after hit, you’d think keeping an inexpensive popular player would be one bone Preller could throw to the now-suffering fanbase. Especially with a roster dotted with polarizing “stars” like Machado and Tatis.
Of course, from a baseball standpoint, probably makes sense to see what you can get for Ha-Seong before he pumpkins.
Javia135
Kim will easily be worth a first round compensation pick to the Padres next year. If they can get nothing better than that in a trade, they will just keep him. No problems.
Crunchtime1969
Trade Cronenworth and extend Kim. That’s what Preller is trying to do now. It’s a process. Be patient. All of this talk about SD not doing anything is malarkey. Preller will make some moves.
Brew’88
and very soon. The team will be pretty good this year.
websoulsurfer
Las Vegas has them at 82.5 wins with the current roster.
JoeBrady
Take the over, but I didn’t think LV took U/O bets this early???
OldSaltUSN
If a decent offer comes up for Cronenworth, that provides a return the Padres NEED, Preller will probably grab it. Dumping Cronenworth as a money dump, no return, or even SENDING money for a better return, is not in the Padres favor, and neither does it provide the return that Cronenworth is actually worth. Selling low is not smart.
Kim is a great ballplayer and valuable resource, but with Jackson Merrill ready for the show, and the value that Cronenworth can provide at 2B, Kim’s a resource, a chip that Preller should use if the return is right. Signing yet another $100M to $200M 8 or 10 year extension for a TWENTY-NINE (29) year old infielder in fall of 2024, doesn’t make any more sense than the (simultaneous) Machado’s, Bogaerts, and Cronenworth extensions/signings.
Again, as I’ve written below, the Pads have a “win-win” situation with Kim.
padrepapi
OldSalt:
Merrill played what, 60 games at AA. I wouldn’t call him ready for the show with only 200 total minor league games under his belt and only a partial season in the upper minors and is still only 20 years old.
They should be thinking of Merrill as a piece that could likely be ready in 2025 and be pleasently surprised if he goes off in ’24 and gets a call up before then.
Preller’s biggest shortcoming is probably his inability to give the prospects more time to cook.
dgonzo13
Hey remember that Cronenworth was a runner up for gold glove at 2B before he was moved to 1B. There is great value there, give him a chance. Move him back to second or trade him to a team in need of 2B lefty hitter.
websoulsurfer
Cronenworth has had ONE bad season and in that season where his salary was just $4.225 million, he STILL provided surplus value.
In his previous two seasons he was a 4 WAR player, All Star level, both seasons.
His contract doesn’t START until next season and he will make only $7 million in 2024, so even if he repeats 2023 he will still provide surplus value. With his upside they would have to be pretty stupid to give up on him now.
Merrill has 187 AB in AA. In no way, shape, or form is he ready to make the jump. He will start 2024 in AA and maybe get a call up mid-season if there are major injuries.
In what way did signing a 5+ WAR per season player to a $25 million AAV deal NOT make sense?
websoulsurfer
Cronenworth has a 3 OAA and 2 DRS at 2B in 2022. Bogaerts had a 5 OAA and 5 DRS at SS that season, but people think he is a bad defensive player.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Cronenwerth is an underwater contract. I have no secial insight as to the Padres plans, but I am certain that the Padres will not move Cronenwerth unless they either throw in a lot of cash or attach a quality prospect. The right play for them is to gable that crony partly bounces back and to trade Kim for a starting pitcher or a 1B if they cannot extend Kim.
vpsd
Projection systems disagree with your underwater take.
ZiPS would have him produce over 11fwar at 2B over the next 7 years. Thats positive surplus.
padrepapi
They should keep Cronenworth, move him to 2b and deal Kim.
Kim will likely cost 2x as much to extend (140m) and moving Cronenworth this offseason likely requires including 20-30m to accomplish that. So essentially Kim would cost around 100m more then just keeping Cronenworth and trading Kim (or letting him walk). Comparable bats and Jake is a damn good defender at 2b too, hence being a two time all-star and 4 win player at the position.
I kinda wonder if even if Kim isn’t a long term SD, if Merrill couldn’t be packaged for a big OF bat as well. Boegarts and Cronenworth up the middle for the next 3-4 years I don’t think is far fetched. Boegarts I think can handle SS for that long.
Sal66
Especially since the Padres are about to sign the top International SS tomorrow (de Vries) who can take over the position from Bogaerts in four or five years.
dgonzo13
Boegarts to first base when Merrill is ready.
websoulsurfer
They should keep Kim AND Cronenworth and extend Kim after 2024 when they have dipped under the CBT threshold for a year.
websoulsurfer
Why? Bogaerts is an above average defensive player at SS.
Brew88
Bogaerts is actually a better defensive SS than Merrill, at this time in the early development of Merrill.
Deleted Userr
Kim is a FA after 2024. It only counts as an “extension” if it’s before the 2024 season ends. Cardinals never ‘extended” Matt Holliday, for instance.
James Midway
Oh look Ken Rosenthal’s meat puppet proposing a trade to make the Padres worse…shocking.
foppert2
Ha ha. Kenny sure does irritate Padre fans.
TrumboRedux
*fans*
James Midway
He got burned on the Sherzer “trade” and has had a vendetta since.
Crunchtime1969
Winning a division, pennant, and going on to win a World Series is complicated. Everything has to be running on all cylinders to do it. Talent and chemistry isn’t enough. The Dodgers prove that every year.
BigRedMachine
Oh the Seattle Mariners could use Kim at 2B…..
Javia135
Seattle has the Padres number and the controllable pitching that the Padres want.
sacrifice
Put down the bong
Best player on the Padres
Javia135
I use a bubbler, thx.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
It is closer than people think, but no way Kim is better than Tatis.
OldSaltUSN
Kim vs Tatis is kind of apples vs oranges. They aren’t the same player, with the same kind of strengths. Kim is arguably better than Tatis OR Bogaerts at SS. He’s “Manny” like consistent with his arm, he’s quick, moves well, makes plays that 95% of SS’s could not make. Tatis can do some of that, but he hasn’t demonstrated the defensive SS consistency and finish on defense that Kim has. (On the other hand, Tatis’ last performance at MLB/SS was as what, a 21 year old? Give him the years of experience that Kim already has at age 28, and Tatis would likely be as polished as Kim.).
There’s no comparison with their bats. Kim is a HIGHLY valuable SS with an advanced hit tool, and some power. Tatis has a H.O.F bat, capable of 40+ HR power, .300 AVG (maybe), and high OBP. Kim wil never be that guy.
So, again, apples vs oranges. Kim is a top SS. Tatis is an iconic, all around, baseball player and athlete.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
To clarify, I am saying Tatis is unquestionably a more talented all-around player than Kim. I am not saying tatis is a better defensive player than Kim. Maybe it is apples to oranges, but Tatis is a top dozen player in MLB so long as he stays healthy and not suspended. Kim is a very good player but not in that tier.
Brew’88
Tatis won not just a gold glove in RF, but the Platinum Glove as the best defensive player in the NL. Saying Kim is a better defensive player isn’t true. Offensively, there’s no discussion, Tatis is one of the 5 best offensive players in the game. Kim is barely above average (for a MI) offensively.
TrumboRedux
If Tatis lives up to expectations he could be the best player in the game. His raw talent is the best I’ve seen since a young Trout.
websoulsurfer
5.8 WAR was in the top dozen in MLB.
websoulsurfer
Tatis is an OF. Padres said he would be even before the PED suspension and Bogaerts signing. Apples and oranges.
In terms of WAR, its not a question. Kim was better in 2022 and 2023.
Brew88
Hard for Tatis to compete with Kim’s WAR in 2022 with a broken wrist and then while serving a suspension.
Dennis Boyd
Keep Kim, Dump Preller!
OldSaltUSN
Keep Preller, Dump Boyd.
OldSaltUSN
We all need to step back a bit, and look at the Padres situation. It’s actually not a crisis. It’s a “win-win” situation.
1) If they keep Kim, they have a 3 or 4 WAR infielder, a 1B/backup SS/2B who “could” be a 3 or 4 WAR infielder (Cronenworth), after his 1-year-late “sophomore slump”), and some problems in the OF and rotation that the farm system will have to fix (either by moving prospects up, or moving prospect out, for big leaguers from another team). They also pick up a draft pick, which we all know, Preller has generally made good use of in the past. (In fact, that’s one of the prime motivations for bringing payroll down, i.e. NOT losing the draft picks and International money that the lux tax removes from the lux tax violators).
2) If they trade Kim, they have ROOM for an up and coming SS/2B named Merrill (who’s had one down year last year, but still profiles as from an above average infielder, to a Kim level infielder). They also have room for a quality backup infielder who’s name could be Batten, Marcano, Rosario, or others in the Padre minor league system.
I believe that signing Bogaerts was a Preller mistake, but not necessarily an insurmountable one. It’s not like the Hosmer/Myers missteps. Bogaerts will deliver the value his salary would predicate, for most if not all of his career (e.g. if he underperforms or is out of baseball in the out years of the contract, those dollars will be of lessor value than today’s dollars, in AAV and lux tax terms at least). I’m neutral on the Cronenworth extension. He could still produce plus value versus his salary, if he’s moved back to second. One down year with the bat, and injury, does not predict the rest of his career, and ignores his early career production. The Machado extension is still a question mark. “Buying” what Machado can bring, is more than just his WAR figures. Yeah, it’s a risk, but again, NO WAY is it in any way comparable to the Hosmer/Myer $$$ spent.
So, all that said, I’m very comfortable if the Padres trade Kim or keep him thru 2024. The obvious proviso is in the trade return. Kim is WORTH a stellar return, painful for the acquiring team. (Why should they pay less for Kim, than the Padres would have to pay for a similar player? How many SS out there are Kim’s equivalent with BAT and a glove. Remember, folks, Kim maybe a 4th year MLB player going into 2024, but he has a DECADE long track record of hitting success in the KBO. He’s NOT just another slick infielder.)
I’d hate to see the young man go, but yeah, Preller, if another team goes “all in” for Kim, take that offer.
Dennis Boyd
You spent a whole paragraph and most of your post on Prellers many mistakes, yet you want to keep him to make more? Exactly when will you think Preller is the problem? Another decade of failure?
OldSaltUSN
You’re doing zero-sum, static analysis, which is never accurate. Yeah, it’s emotional, it’s self-satisfying, and glad you got that release. However, your assessment of Preller’s value is far from realistic. If the Padres fired Preller, 15 other teams would be offering him work, either as GM or something fairly close, in 10 minutes.
Guaranteed.
Dynamically, analytically speaking, Preller has sharp “pro’s” and “con’s”. The benefit’s that he’s contributed exceeds the costs, which is why he’s still employeed as GM. Also, remember, Preller doesn’t call all the shots alone. It’s unpublished, but I’m CERTAIN ownership (past and present) has given Preller a set of parameters. He can do certain deals on his own. Other deals require approval from the Ownership group. He proposes deals, some of which are done and likely, many others that are rejected. He presents his case to ownership. If he’s presenting this information falsely, he’ll be gone-like-Elvis. If ownership feels that he’s running the organization well, hiring the right people, finding value, and generally giving them good advice, he’ll be Padres GM as long as he wants.
You seem to believe that every prospect traded, and every dollar spent, is Preller’s decision alone. Yeah, he’s at the “con”, he’s running the show, but not in a vacuum. His “decade lack of success” in terms of pennants and WS rings includes at least half of those years when he was working with very little money.
You hate Preller. Fine. We all have our opinions, but don’t put that on me. That’s your gig.
Dennis Boyd
You’re the one who commented on keeping him and then you spent your time counting his mistakes. I agree he has positives like drafting and building a minor league system (and many clubs will hire him to do so), but he has sucked and failed for a decade at the top job. Again, I ask you, how many more rebuilds/re-tries are you willing to give him? He is still paying Hosmer THIS year. I would have moved on and tried a different top dog. Padres fans deserve better.
OldSaltUSN
“then you spent your time counting his mistakes”.
You’ve never heard of the term, “context”. Or, “balance”. I was acknowleging counter arguments, and answering them in advance.
dgonzo13
I like Preller. He makes bold moves that many GM don’t even think about. It’s not his problem that players didn’t perform. How many one run games did Padres win in 2022 compared to 2023. The line up in 2023 was unbelievable I don’t think it was managed well. How do you run the same lineup when you see it not produce? We need a true power bat at 1B and a solid defense CF that can hit above Mendoza line.
El Niño
The AJ Preller built padres were in the NLCS in 2022 and missed the playoffs by a couple games in ‘23 because of well documented, unexplainable bad luck in 1-run and extra innings games. The Preller haters are delusional.
Niekro floater
Boergerts deal alone gona B albatross round financial neck of team that can’t afford big swing n misses in FA market. Then compound that w/needlessly extending Darvish till he’s 45. What has preller won again ? Drunk off Pads kool-aid, next B talking bout where @petco they putn in preller statue ?
El Niño
What has so and so won again is the weakest come back ever. You can say that about 90% of GMs. Otherwise I couldn’t figure out what you’re trying to say.
websoulsurfer
4.4 WAR. Just $25 million AAV. That is a GOOD signing. Not a bad one. Can always tell the people that have no clue when they try to say that was a bad deal.
User 2161944466
The most underrated South Korean ever to play the game. Ask anyone.
TrumboRedux
Jimmy, that’s nothing. I played ball with the very best Inuit to ever hail from Greenland.
Old York
Trade him for some peanuts and cracker jacks.
TrumboRedux
The peanuts are non-negotiable because Cracker Jacks have about 1-2 peanuts per bag now sadly…I don’t know why. I would think the cost to add a few more would be mere peanuts!
egrossen
As a Cubs fan, I’d love to see Kim at 3B for them. He is under control for 1-2 more years, which seems perfect for Matt Shaw’s time line (he will be playing 3B in the minors this year). The Cubs seem to really value defense (for the most part), and Kim is pretty solid with the glove.
websoulsurfer
Kim is a FA after 2024.
egrossen
I looked on baseball reference and it says there’s an option for 2025, but maybe that’s not correct?
Longtimecoming
It’s mutual – never see mutual exercised. So you are correct it’s there but it’s not really from a practical sense.
Brew’88
Kim will of course decline the option and make $15-$20M as FA
Deleted Userr
Padres CAN QO Kim after 2024 at least.
I fought in stuff
I’m hopeful that the club will follow the model espoused by the Rays, Guardians, at one time -the A’s, the Brewers etc. and develop talent. However, no matter how much capital is ultimately gone, the club should still have assets to sign some upper tier free agents. Clearly, expediency played here. However, a good bit of talent remains committed in San Diego- albeit a bit older. Stay focused on winning games, not just occasionally competing with the Dodgers, and build on that.
In the off-season, make the difficult trades to make the club better. I applaud the Soto move and, if the next trade looks promising, make it.
Deleted Userr
“Trading Kim would create a big hole in San Diego’s infield…”
Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr: “Are we a joke to you????”
Brew88
And here comes De Vries. Then there’s Manny. You didn’t mention Manny? And Rosario gets no love. And what of Rosman Verdugo? Word on the street is he’s the next Nomar Garciaparra.
Brew88
De Vries just signed 8 minutes ago
joew
I’d love to have him as a pirates fan. Brings some definite middle infield defense with a decent offense. Shame it is a one year of control.
Siscokid
Sadly, Cronenworth’s success in ‘24 will dictate Kim staying in SD. Cronenworth does well, he’s gone in a heartbeat and Kim extended. Such a dumb extension to offer Cronenworth with all those years of arbitration control left.
websoulsurfer
If Cronenworth had repeated his 2021 and 2022 seasons in 2023, what do you think it would have cost the Padres to keep him?
Other teams are being praised for extending good young players prior to them reaching FA, but because it was the Padres it’s a dumb thing?
He would have made at least $7 million in 2024 in arbitration regardless of how he played in 2023 and that is how much the Padres will pay him on this extension.
His new deal STARTS in 2024. So the only way to even try to claim it was a bad extension is with the ability to use HINDSIGHT. The Padres signed him coming off 2 straight 4+ WAR seasons.
Deleted Userr
“If Cronenworth had repeated his 2021 and 2022 seasons in 2023, what do you think it would have cost the Padres to keep him?”
Not much considering he is under arb control through 2025.
“Other teams are being praised for extending good young players prior to them reaching FA, but because it was the Padres it’s a dumb thing?”
Other teams are being praised for extending good *young* players. Cronenworth was 29 the day that extension was signed, 30 when it starts, was already controlled through his age 31 season even with no extension and could have been controlled through his age 32 season with no extension if Preller had been smart and waited 6 extra days to call him up at the start of 2020.
I like Jake as much as the next guy so I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was a “bad” extension but late bloomers like him are exactly the type of players you go year-to-year in arb with.
Niekro floater
Kim is all around stud player, showcased it all last season time n time again. Real team player n underappreciated asset. Plug em in n he plays. Wish he was Dodger SS. Hard2 root gainst em
Rishi
While a Braves trade is never gonna happen it is a mistake to say they would need to move an IF. They have no good backup and Arcia could easily slot back into that role. It makes no sense tho. But I am a bit puzzled by their lack of a sense of needing a backup IF. They were very fortunate last year to hardly need one. I guess they figure they could always aquire one in season. I really don’t think they care much if Arcia hits at or below average considering the lineup.
TrumboRedux
If they were to get a proper offer for Kim, I don’t see them turning it down to merely appease fans for a 2 game stint in Korea. That just wouldn’t make sense.
tonyinsingapore
Sad but true; in California/US estate taxes can be massive (even with the work of an A-level law firm).
So why not move Kim at his peak?
alphabravo619
I never post. I don’t do social media. For this specific article only, I’m breaking my own rule.
Born and raised in East Country San Diego, diehard Padres fan-
Keep Kim. You have to keep him. He’s a stud at three premium infield positions. He can handle velo at the plate now. As unpredictable as Preller might be, now way he flips Kim. He has too much value.
After watching Kim since his debut, he finally looked comfortable and loose last season and it looks like he’s legitimately having fun on the field. He’s a fan favorite at the stadium. I could see Kim signing a team friendly long term contract with both sides being happy.
No way he’s traded. Period. Fake news.
HSK! HSK! HSK! #KIMSDP4EVR
TrumboRedux
Alphabravo619, Welcome friend. You have enough conviction that you sold me. I’m convinced. Although, if you don’t stick around and post more, then you are subject to the “One time poster fee.” Which can of course be remitted to: TrumboRedux on CashApp. I always forward it on to the MLBTR accounts receivables dept. It’s normally $120 but you seem like a solid individual, so I am authorized to accept $75. Mull it over and get back to me!
Brew88
Pay no attention to Trumbo, at VirginPoster.com you can get 5 initial posts for free and it only costs you $17.95/year thereafter, and all deliveries are discreet.
thefaithfulfriar
HA SEONG KIM-HA SEONG KIM! He’s not going anywhere. He’s a gamer. This all a bunch of BS
Deleted Userr
Chanting his name in all caps in the comments just screams “casual fan.” You probably liked Wil Myers too lol.
You are going to be very disappointed a year from now.
ForeverGiantsFan
The fans in San Diego love him and he’s on a team friendly contract. Trading him would be bad PR.
Deleted Userr
What’s more important: PR or maximizing the utility from the contract?
martevious
The Mariners need him
Javia135
Call Preller.
wtylerw
I dont see it happening unless the return is crazy. This team isnt in dire need of much more than a couple of warm bodies for the 7/8/9 spots in the lineup with plenty of free agents available. Contenders interested in Kim aren’t going to give up mlb contributors – and we have enough prospects.
Need of pitching? No, we have 5 or 6 guys vying for the 4-6 spots in the rotation with a promising group of prospects that can be called up mid-season.
We need a couple role players to help cover CF, and a 1b / dh type. One of Pauley / Marsee / Merrill are going to be make the team in LF; and get a chance to break through. That leaves 3 spots on the 13 with names like Gallo, Jankowski, Cooper, and Profar out there to hit 8 and 9 in our lineup.
Motor City Beach Bum
How about this? SD keeps Kim and signs him. To do so they send Tatis, Lesko and Cronenworth to the Tigers for P. Meadows, Manning, Lange, Flores, Carpenter and a decent Milb player TBD. Carp can play OF, DH or even be converted to 1B. Meadows is the young CF they need. Manning and Flores are starters for the back end with potential. Lange is wild but has closer material. Frees up cash for SD to sign whoever else they want while filling most of their holes. Look Ma the Padres pick up someone who doesn’t play shortstop. Tell me Preller isn’t chomping at the bit for a big deal.
Brew’88
I know, the Padres move the fences in 100 ft, and raise them 100 ft. With all their shortstops, deploy an infield of Manny, Kim, Bogaerts, Cronenworth, Tatis, Merrill, and the kid De Vries. Seven IFers. The view from the OF seats/grass area will suck but the backsides of the tall fence would have wrap-around video screens of the action, or, the 100 fence could be made of see-through plexiglass. This could work.
Motor City Beach Bum
And the Tigers sign Michael Taylor for 2 years until Clark is ready. Good defence and hit 20 HRs last year. Cronenworth plays 3B, Keith at 2B and Tatis takes Carps OF spot. In a year or two Lesko, Madden and Jobe come up with Skubal for a wicked young rotation. Change around a few parts on the Tigers side of things if that doesn’t work. Jung could be trade bait too, or a different BP piece or starter.
Brew88
I like it! Except we keep Tatis.
closetball
Trading Kim would be a PR nightmare. Yeah trade a fan fave who plays the game right to make up for your other dumb ass decisions. Smart.
Deleted Userr
If you do the exact opposite of what the casual fans want you to do every chance you get you will end up making the correct move more often than not.