Ha-Seong Kim is finding interest in free agency’s opening days. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com writes that the Giants have identified him as an early target. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports that the Blue Jays are also showing interest as they evaluate infield possibilities.
While this is the first substantive tie between Kim and the Giants, that fit had been speculated long before he hit free agency. Giants skipper Bob Melvin managed the infielder for two seasons with the Padres. President of baseball operations Buster Posey has called shortstop a target area. Improving defensively seems like a particular priority, as landing a shortstop could allow San Francisco to slide Tyler Fitzgerald to second base.
Willy Adames is the top free agent shortstop. He could land a six- or seven-year contract. Kim seemed to be on track for four or five years as recently as a few months ago. A season-ending shoulder injury and postseason labrum surgery make it likelier he’ll take a short-term deal. The Padres opted not to issue a qualifying offer, which Kim would almost certainly have declined if he were healthy. San Diego president of baseball ops A.J. Preller has floated a nebulous timeline for the 29-year-old’s return, suggesting he could be out between May and July. Kim’s agent Scott Boras has indicated he could be available earlier in the season, potentially before the end of April.
Kim’s value is driven largely by his glove. He has proven to be a plus defender throughout the infield, at least when he’s at full strength. While some teams could be concerned about his arm in the immediate aftermath of a significant shoulder procedure, Kim had shown a sufficient arm before the surgery to play on the left side of the infield. He’s a roughly league average hitter, compensating for middling power with good contact skills and strong walk rates. Kim hit .233/.330/.370 with 11 homers and 22 stolen bases during his platform year.
He’s also a plus defender at second base, where the Jays would ostensibly target him. Nicholson-Smith reported last night that Toronto had also checked in on Gleyber Torres. Toronto has Bo Bichette returning at shortstop. Between second and third base, they have a handful of internal options who are light on MLB experience (e.g. Will Wagner, Davis Schneider, Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez, Ernie Clement). Toronto also used Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sporadically at the hot corner.
MLBTR predicted Kim for a one-year pillow contract valued around $12MM. His camp could try to secure a two-year guarantee that allows him to opt out after next season, though it’s not clear if teams are willing to take that risk coming off the injury. The Padres have expressed interest in bringing him back, while the Braves and Mariners are speculative possibilities to pursue middle infield help.
DonOsbourne
I don’t think he gets to $12 mil on a one year deal.
Rexhudler86
@don. He had a 5.8 war season in 2023. 4.9 war in 2022. Not to many infield options on the market. He’s getting paid.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
He either will sign a 3-4 year 45-60 million contract (because of the injury) or take the Jordan Montgomery route of 1 year 15 mil with an option for a 2nd year
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I am predicting three years and $30 million
stephaniebpetagno
He’d be a prime candidate for a Farhan-special – 1+1 with an opt out.
Lindor's Bodyguard
I heard he wants a Bellinger special. 1+1+1.
mattwild1
Don’t forget that his buddy Jung Hoo Lee is also with SF.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Imagine if ha seong and hye-seong are on the same team (on top of Lee)
The announcers would get so confused who is who
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Three decades ago your Mariners had two guys on the team with the exact same first and last name, e.g., Ken Griffey, the two Kims have slightly different names.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Junior and senior were their names…
But these two kims aren’t related
gbs42
Are they really buddies or just both from South Korea?
youngliam
They are buddies, they played on the same team in Korea and have been good friends ever since. Whenever the Padres played the Giants last year the two would get together and hang out.
jimmertee
Is it time for the daily BlueJays have interest article that means nothing?
Remember it is Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro that we are talking about.
They have had 8 years and 2 full baseball build cycles and done nothing towards winning a WS apart from what AA left them.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
2025 is their Do or Die year though. Push all your chips in, shoot for the moon. “Full Throttle”
G-lo
It may sound outlandish, but I see the Giants offering him a 4 year deal, maybe more. The new front office leadership has expressed a desire to be in the memory making business. You can’t do that with players that will be around for one year at a time. Show some faith that the guy will recover most of his value
oldgfan
Good take.
Not outlandish at all.
SFG should know by now if they want a specific player they need to out spend and or out term the rest of the league.
Jean Matrac
oldgfan,
“… they need to out spend and or out term the rest of the league.”
That’s virtually true for every team in MLB. Short of the rare location preference, every player takes the best deal. And the best deal is the one that out spends or out terms the other teams.
oldgfan
True.
I meant substantially though.
Jean Matrac
That I would disagree with. Most players aren’t going to pass up the better deal for a lesser one, no matter how great the difference.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I think they’ll land either Kim or Adames. That left side D will be ridiculous.
Rexhudler86
@ybc Kim just sounds like a giants type of player. Plus it’s from a division team.
dano62
Giants want to show they can zero in and get someone after a couple years plus of chasing chasing & coming up as second or Eve third best. This Kim feels like a solid fit with a question mark attached, so the deal should be at most 3-plus a players option but I doubt it’ll be that reasonable.
oldgfan
Then you’re probably also a fan of buttermilk.
gravel
A true fan of culture!
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Churned buttermilk, with black pepper and a raw egg. Orange Julious style. If you know then you know.
letsgooakland123
Ha-Seong Kim’s offseason is like a buffet where everyone wants a taste but is worried about the potential food poisoning from that shoulder surgery. The Giants, Blue Jays, and even the Padres are circling him like diners nervously eyeing the sushi at an all-you-can-eat.
oldgfan
Good analogy !
Butter Biscuits
Preller had no business saying how long Kim could possibly be out to the public. Kim is a free agent and talk like that could cost him millions from other teams
James Midway
I’m interested in the new Chicken Big Mac
VegasSDfan
$5 menu
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Grape jelly Uncrustables
bestone
Jays need to get rid of Martinez….nobody wants to watch a cheater
TellItGoodbye
I wanna say he’s over-hyped and not worth what he wants, but then the WAR Police will show up at my door.
Rexhudler86
@tellitgoodbye. It’s his k/bb rate. Steals. Definitely a well rounder player in a thin position or positions. Some people last year were saying ohtani was going to get a 30/1 year deal because of his injury. Plus Kim can play second.
gbs42
TellIt,
If you think that’s the case, say why.
TellItGoodbye
Overrated was too harsh, I guess I don’t see him as electric as others do. His lifetime OPS+ is a tick below average. He will never hit many HRs at Oracle and we need a massive offensive upgrade. Although Kim is a stellar defensive player, and Adames had a surprising off year defensively, Willy’s pop is light years better than Kim’s. I’d take the chance last season was a defensive anomaly and sign Adames over Kim. Even factoring the park, Adames will produce much more at the plate. Oh, and he has a better WAR than Kim, for those who care about that ridiculous stat.
stephaniebpetagno
Small aside, but there’s no chance he’d have turned down a QO. Hence they didn’t offer him one.
DanUgglasRing
HSK and a full season of JHL plus the already incredible defense of Chappy and Bailey may be exactly the recipe the Giants need to stop sucking so badly in a hurry. Seems like Posey is prioritizing pitching and defense philosophically and that seems like a sharp bet considering the reputation the park has (I know it’s more neutral than pitcher friendly now but the impression that nobody can hit there will last until the team shows otherwise)
oldgfan
If another top starter is added, or they resign Snell, then I would be more of a believer in that is indeed his philosophy.
NoSaint
For the Jays, I dunno if this works. They say they want to be competitive next year. If Kim could be out half the season it really doesn’t work in their timeline.
Jeff Ringer
They have roughly 20 – 30 million to spend. Spending 12 million on production they can get from rookie is a waste of money.
Nothing to this article… just a filler from Ben Nicholson.
TellItGoodbye
Totally agree. But I’m going to presume they cave to the Jung Ho love of Kim thinking there will be a synergistic line-up effect.
Skell 2
Love Kim for the Jays.
giantsguy41
.233 BA; 11 HR , will start season on the IL…and he’s considered a top target for the Giants? Woof. What am I missing?
Hank Murphy
Good glove, can’t hit, sounds like a Shatkins sign.
Shatkins goal is 9
9 gold gloves, 9 total runs scored during the season.