San Diego Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim declines mutual option and becomes a free agent

Infielder Ha-Seong Kim has opted out of his joint contract with the San Diego Padres. Dennis Lin of The Athletic first reported on Saturday.

If Kim had agreed, the Padres would have likely exercised their option considering he was only worth $8 million through the 2025 season. Instead, Kim will receive a $2 million buyout and become a free agent.

Kim signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Padres ahead of the 2021 campaign, leaving the Korean Baseball Organization behind.

Kim played in 117 games in his rookie year, batting .202 with a .622 OPS, but he was able to post 2.1 WAR thanks to his dynamic defensive efforts at shortstop, second base and third base. The Padres made Kim their full-time starter in 2022, only to move him back to the secondary after signing Xander Bogaerts for 2023.

This earned Kim the Golden Glove that season, becoming the first Korean player ever to receive the honor. Kim also took a step forward offensively, batting .260 with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 38 stolen bases, a .749 OPS and 5.8 WAR en route to finishing in 14th place in the NL MVP race.

Kim took over at shortstop again in 2024 as Bogaerts continued to age, but his season ended in August with a right shoulder injury. He had surgery on October 10 and is expected to be back by mid-April.

The 29-year-old finished last season batting .233 with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .700 OPS and 2.6 WAR in 121 games.

Kim switched agents in October, signing with Boras Corporation before becoming a free agent. He’s sure to be one of the top middle infielders on the open market, along with Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willie Adames and his former KBO teammate Hye-Sung Kim. should it be published.

According to SpotracHa-Sung Kim’s market value is currently $49.1 million over four years. The Padres have already paid Bogaerts, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. a combined $63 million in 2025, so it remains to be seen how high a price they’ll be willing to bid for Kim’s services in the future.

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