Ha-Seong Kim, a key member of the San Diego Padres for the past few seasons, declined his end of an $8 million mutual option for 2025, the team said Saturday. The shortstop will receive a $2 million buyout and enter free agency for the first time.
The move was expected after Kim outperformed a four-year, $28 million contract signed before the 2021 season, but his foray into the open market comes at an interesting juncture. Kim, 29, underwent labrum surgery on his throwing shoulder on Oct. 10 and is targeting an early-season return in 2025, although doctors have suggested that he might have to wait until May or later. The Padres remain interested in retaining Kim on a short-term deal that would allow him to prove his health.
Kim injured himself on Aug. 18 diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt, with imaging later revealing a tear in his labrum. Kim tried to return before the end of the season, but after his throwing progression stalled multiple times, he was shut down in late September. He was asked then if he thought he had potentially played his final game for the Padres.
“Anything can happen in the future, so we’ll see,” Kim said through interpreter David Lee.
“Obviously, San Diego’s a huge part of me because this is my fourth season with them, and along those four years, we’ve fought to get that World Series trophy every year and made great memories. The team almost feels like family to me now.”
Despite his injury, Kim is expected to command significant interest from other teams. Aside from Willy Adames, the current class of free-agent shortstops offers little competition, and Kim has proven himself to be a strong defender at multiple positions, including second base and third base. He recently hired Scott Boras, the sport’s most prominent agent, to represent him, further highlighting the possibility of a sizable new contract.
Kim, the first Asian-born infielder to win a Gold Glove, compiled 10.5 FanGraphs wins above replacement from 2022 to 2024, ranking 11th among all players who primarily played shortstop. Following a breakout in 2023, he experienced a disappointing offensive season, hitting .233 with a .700 OPS, but he still ended his injury-shortened season with 2.6 fWAR.
“He plays the game with a ton of energy. He’s an intelligent baseball player. He defends the field really well. He can play all different spots, he can take a walk, he can hit a home run, he can steal a base. That’s the way we evaluate him, and that’s a really talented and valuable player,” Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said last month. “We’d love to bring him back. I think we’ve just got to kind of get into it and see where that leaves us.”
If Kim does not re-sign with San Diego, the Padres could feel compelled to put Xander Bogaerts back at shortstop. Bogaerts moved from shortstop to second base last spring to accommodate Kim, a superior defender. As Kim’s shoulder injury continued to sideline him, Bogaerts returned to his natural position in September, but the 32-year-old is no longer considered a plus fielder at short.
Bogaerts’ 11-year, $280 million contract is one reason the Padres are already projected to be slightly above the $241 million luxury tax threshold in 2025, even with Kim no longer on the books.
In other news Saturday, Padres reliever Wandy Peralta exercised a $4.25 million option for the 2025 season. The veteran left-hander last offseason signed a four-year, $16.5 million deal that included three player options. Peralta, 33, missed several weeks this summer with a groin injury and finished the season with a 3.99 ERA in 46 appearances.
(Top photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images)
