The Braves are gearing up for a pivotal offseason. The focus is all about strengthening their roster for a return to the postseason in 2025. The team faced significant hurdles last season, losing key players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, and Austin Riley to season-ending injuries.
The Braves still clinched a playoff spot for the seventh straight year through it all. Now, they’re setting their sights on getting those stars healthy and possibly making a few strategic moves in the free-agent market.
One of the key questions for Atlanta is the shortstop position. Orlando Arcia had a challenging season, finishing with a slash line of .218/.271/.354—numbers that likely have the front office exploring other options to add firepower and consistency to the infield. And as the rumor mill spins, one name keeps popping up: San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller highlighted Kim as a perfect fit for the Braves in his recent ranking of the top hitters in the upcoming free-agent class. Kim seems poised to test the waters of free agency and has quietly put together a string of impressive seasons.
According to Miller, Kim is part of an exclusive club—one of just 12 players in the last two seasons to rack up at least 4.9 bWAR. This list isn’t just anybody; it includes heavyweights like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Mookie Betts. That’s the kind of company the Braves would love to have on their roster.
Kim’s 2024 season wasn’t perfect though. A shoulder injury sidelined him for 41 games, but he made an impact when he was on the field. He slashed .233/.330/.370, hitting 11 homers and swiping 22 bases over 121 games. But if you dig a little deeper, Kim’s advanced stats reveal the kind of player who could make a huge difference for Atlanta. With a career .982 fielding percentage, Kim is versatile and reliable, offering the Braves both offensive production and defensive stability.
With Kim projected to decline his $7 million mutual option for 2025, the market value for his talents is climbing. Spotrac estimates his next deal could exceed $49 million over four years, and considering the Braves’ needs and budget, that price tag might be worth it. Miller emphasizes that even with the missed time due to injury, Kim was still one of the Padres’ top contributors in 2024. It’s clear he can command more than a one-year, $7 million deal.
For Atlanta, it all comes down to finding the right fit both in terms of skill set and price tag. If the Braves decide Kim is their man, they could be looking at a dynamic upgrade in the infield for 2025, one that might just push them back into serious contention for the World Series.
