The Atlanta Braves have had a pretty uneventful offseason. They need an upgrade at shortstop and could land one from the San Diego Padres in the next wave of free agency.
While listing landing spots for the top remaining free agents, Just Baseball’s Ryan Finkelstein predicted that the Braves would sign Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim to a five-year, $60 million deal.
“One team that could use a shortstop however is the Atlanta Braves, although the price tag may be too much for them to stomach when Orlando Arcia is making just $2 million per season. Arcia gives them a good glove at short like Kim, but he’s nowhere near the same level hitter,” wrote Finkelstein. “The reality is, any team can find a home for a player as versatile as Ha-Seong Kim.”
Arcia was unable to live up to the expectations he set after being named an All-Star in 2023. His OPS fell from .741 to .625. He had just 46 RBIs on the season.
Kim had a down year in 2024. He ended the season early after needing surgery for his labrum injury. He is expected to miss the start of the 2025 season. He had a .233 average and 11 home runs last season. However, in 2023 he won a utility Gold Glove and slashed .260/.351/.398 with 17 home runs.
His versatility on defense gives the Braves some flexibility in case of injuries. His price may seem steep, but if he can get back to the player he was in 2023 they could have a solution to their problem at shortstop.
