Free agent According to MLB.com, Ha-Seong Kim, the top-ranked middle infielder still available, will not be ready to start the 2025 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in October. There was some optimism that Kim might be prepared for Opening Day or shortly after, but it now looks like he won’t be back until at least late April or early May.
On August 18, Kim, 29, hurt his shoulder leaping back toward first base during a pickoff attempt. Kim had his labrum surgically repaired in October after his initial attempt to rehab the injury so he could be available to the San Diego Padres in the postseason failed. The play that caused the injury is as follows:
Regarding his injury in late September, Kim stated, “I thought I could maybe come back, which is why I went to Arizona in the first place” (via MLB.com). “I participated in a rehabilitation game, but the pain returned. We therefore made the decision to have surgery after having numerous discussions about what to do next.
For a player who contributes most to his team’s defence, Kim’s injury to his right throwing shoulder is noteworthy. In his four MLB seasons, Kim has played a lot of shortstop, third base, and second base, but he might be forced to second base for the rest of his career if the labrum injury impairs his arm strength and/or accuracy.
After the World Series, Kim entered free agency after the Padres and he each turned down their half of a $8 million mutual option. Kim was listed as the second-best middle infielder after Willy Adames and the fourteenth-best free agent available this offseason. This is the article:
After three years of league-average offensive output, talented defensive shortstops are constantly in demand. Until a planet becomes uninhabitable or a cosmic disaster causes baseball to cease to be played, it will continue to be that way. Kim definitely fits both requirements. He has a special talent for ranging to his right, making him entertaining to watch in action. Although Kim isn’t going to be mistaken for a brilliant offensive player anytime soon, his lacklustre slugging ability has been somewhat compensated for by his growth as a basestealer. He plays well. Regretfully, he needed shoulder surgery this fall, which will keep him out of action until the next season and probably limit his earning potential.
Kim might be considering a short-term prove-yourself contract given the uncertainties surrounding the injury, including when he will be able to play and how it will impact his throwing. A player option or two for one year, or something similar. A healthy 2025 might still position Kim to make a tidy profit as a free agent in the upcoming summer because he is still young enough.
The infield market is somewhat complicated with Nolan Arenado’s trade availability and Alex Bregman’s free agency. If Kim is amenable to a short-term contract, the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners are two teams who stick out as potential candidates in need of second base assistance. The Padres, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, and other teams in need of an infield might check in.
Kim has been a league-average hitter over the past three years, slashing.250/.336/.385 with 15 home runs and 28 stolen bases per 162 games, following a difficult MLB rookie season in 2021. Because of his excellent defence, he has averaged 4.6 WAR per 162 games as a big leaguer and was awarded the NL’s utility Gold Glove in 2023.
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