The Atlanta Braves and free agent shortstop Ha-Seong Kim are in agreement on a one-year, $20 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
After spending the first four years of his career with the San Diego Padres, the Korean shortstop signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. After a disappointing 24 games with the Rays, Kim was waived and quickly snatched by the Braves, where he would play out the rest of the season.
However, after 24 games with Atlanta, Kim opted out of a one-year, $16 million contract.
Kim’s agent, Scott Boras, had been lobbying to get Kim more than what he would’ve earned with that option, and more than his market value, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
Boras seemingly succeeded by netting Kim $4 million on the free agent market, touting him as one of the best shortstops available at the winter meetings.
What Are Braves Fans Getting With Kim?
After a 24-game stint with Atlanta last season, Braves fans know what they’re getting into with Kim. The shortstop hit .253 and had a .684 OPS with Atlanta, struggling with injuries throughout the season.
Kim is a below-average offensive player, hitting just .242 lifetime, with a 97 OPS+. While he is known to have good plate discipline, he lacks power, with just 52 home runs across five seasons.
What Kim does bring to the table is a strong glove, winning the Gold Glove Award in 2023. During that season, he had 9 Outs Above Average, good for the 96th percentile among MLB defenders, per Baseball Savant.
While his defense did take a step back in 2025, Kim may not have played enough to truly flash his defensive abilities.
Over a full season, which Kim hasn’t had since he won his gold glove, Kim has shown to be an elite defender at one of the hardest defensive positions.
Was it worth $20 million? That’s for Kim to prove, going into free agency next season.
What is Kim’s Fit With Atlanta?
Kim will naturally slide in as the Braves’ starting shortstop after manning the position for them down the stretch.
Bringing Kim back allows the Braves to use free agent acquisition Mauricio Dubon as a utilityman, per Heyman.
Orlando Arcia, a 2023 all-star and 2021 champion, was the starting shortstop going into the 2025 season, attempting to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season.
Arcia only lasted 14 games with Atlanta in 2025, hitting an abysmal .194 with a .445 OPS. He was released in May, leaving a hole at shortstop.
After a disappointing season by shortstop Nick Allen, who had a .535 OPS, Kim hopes to have a better season than his predecessors.
Having a good defender at shortstop is necessary for contending teams, and now the Braves have one locked up for a full season. It’s just a matter of whether Kim will be able to hit his stride offensively.
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