The Pink Sox have the gamers to fill out a complete infield on Opening Day proper now. Nevertheless it will include quite a lot of danger, a great deal of upside, some draw back, and two or three damage purple lights. So they need to most likely discover an addition or two whether or not by commerce or free agent signing.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
Ha-Seong Kim is a 30-year-old infielder from South Korea. Throughout his time in MLB he’s performed with the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and Atlanta Braves. Over his 5 MLB seasons he’s been a shortstop (350 video games), second baseman (132 video games), and third baseman (79 video games). He can run (38 steals in 2023) too and may, most likely, chip in double digit dwelling runs to associate with the double digit steals. He’s missed time and has a brief profession in MLB so there’s quite a lot of uncertainty right here but additionally a set skillset.
When Kim came visiting in 2021 he had an uneventful rookie season at age-25: .202/.270/.352 on the plate. The query was: will the bat come stateside too? And it did. Over the following two seasons Kim mixed for a .256/.338/.391 line with 28 dwelling runs and 50 steals. He even acquired MVP votes in 2023, though we will faucet the brakes: he completed 14th. However there’s a lot to love in his total participant profile. Besides that 2024 was a down yr that required shoulder surgical procedure after the season. After which he spent portion of 2025 on the IL, was lower by the Rays who signed him within the low season, picked up by Atlanta (who, bear in mind, was a large number) and customarily didn’t play effectively.
TLDR; simply give me his 2025 stats
In 93 plate appearances for the Rays, Kim slashed: .214/.290/.321.
In 98 plate appearances for Atlanta: .253/.316/.368.
Now, he was positively a bit higher in Atlanta, which might have been attributable to extra restoration time because the surgical procedure, the particular opponents, or luck. However irrespective of the way you slice it he was a shadow of his former self. Evaluating this to his the 2023 efficiency on Statcast although and also you see some similarities. The broad strokes look….kinda comparable. He wasn’t hitting the candy spot, his strikeout and stroll performances have been worse, however there was quite a lot of 2023 Kim right here. Although absolutely Tampa and Atlanta every new this.
Why would he be match on the Pink Sox?
The Pink Sox infield has one set place proper now: Trevor Story at shortstop. And he was signed initially to play second base subsequent to Xander Bogaerts. Additionally, it’s gone tough for Story till 2025. Having a succesful backup shortstop might be a good suggestion.
After Story we’ve got…Marcelo Mayer to participant second or third base.
Triston Casas at first base.
And a bit little bit of questioning.
Kristian Campbell is an outfielder now.
Positive, resigning Alex Bregman helps. Or signing Pete Alonso. Or buying and selling for Ketel Marte.
Whereas Story has struggled to remain on the sphere just lately he had a monitor file within the majors. Marcelo Mayer may be nice in 2026 however he hasn’t proven greater than the power to defend on the main league stage. He hit sufficient final yr to stay if he stays wholesome however that’s it.
Boston is a group with some cash at its disposal. It may resolve this downside.
Why wouldn’t he be match on the Pink Sox?
MLB Commerce Rumors estimates his contract at 2 years and $30 million. And possibly up from there as the one different shortstop of notice on the free agent market other than Bo Bichette. If Boston has one thing like $80 million to play with, you are taking $20 off the highest for Sonny Grey. That patched one gap. Can they they swing Bregman/Alonso (in the event that they add a Huge Identify) and a man like Kim? Most likely? Hopefully?
It’s lots to commit relying on what you consider Mayer will do. Or any of the lesser shortstop/infield choices. Possibly the Sox simply want yet one more man who can area and take over brief or the Mayer place “in a pinch.” Not a starter?
We don’t know the way a lot 2022-23 Kim is in there or if he’s extra 2021 and 2024-25 Kim going ahead.
My desire for the infield can be to land Bo Bichette. Nevertheless it actually looks as if the Blue Jays are on this for the lengthy haul and if gamers will go to Toronto, there’s cash to pay them. So if he’s basically off the market, and the Sox can nonetheless seize one other Huge Identify, I say smash. If this can be a two yr deal and he’s even first rate that’s moveable to accommodate the farm or wants on the infield that come up. If he’s not good on the plate, he most likely nonetheless fields effectively. Which as we’ve seen can go a protracted solution to getting the group over a hurdle. They’ll carry a .650 OPS man who’s a vacuum on the grass.
