The Braves’ rough June has put a spotlight on just about every weak spot on the roster, and shortstop is near the top of that list. With the trade deadline approaching, Atlanta is already being linked to a major move that would reshape the middle infield and likely push Ha-Seong Kim out of the starting job.
Kim has not delivered the kind of season the Braves expected, and manager Walt Weiss didn’t sugarcoat the situation when asked about the struggles.
“There's no secret sauce or anything to get guys through their struggles. I mean, he works every day.
We've had multiple conversations and he's just trying to find his way. It's been a struggle for him.
I'm sure he's more frustrated than anybody. But I'm going to continue to mix and match and see if he can find his way.
You know, the other guys are going to get opportunities, too. That's all we can do,” Weiss said.
Atlanta added another layer to that picture on Thursday by calling up shortstop Jim Jarvis for extra depth in the middle infield. The move also hinted at how the Braves may be thinking about the rest of the first half.
“Jim Jarvis will be tonight’s starting shortstop against Cardinals RHP Dustin May, who has allowed left-handed hitters to construct a .794 OPS against him. Right-handed hitters have a .513 OPS against him. Jarvis’s LH bat could be used in similar situations over the rest of the first half,” Braves beat writer Mark Bowman posted.
That kind of roster shuffle has only fueled the idea that Kim’s runway in Atlanta could be getting shorter. In a recent mock trade, the Braves were projected to land Willy Adames, a move that would effectively end Kim’s time as the club’s starting shortstop.
“If the Braves prefer to pursue a shortstop at the deadline, and in turn make Dubón their everyday left fielder, Willy Adames would be a potential target. With the Giants out of contention, it was reported last week by ESPN’s Buster Olney that the team is open to dealing some of its higher-paid players, including Adames.
It’d be a significant investment from the Braves as Adames is under contract through the 2031 season and is set to make $31.4 million per season for the duration of the deal. Unless San Francisco would eat some of that money in the trade, it may be difficult to come together,” SI’s Karl Rasmussen wrote.
Adames would bring the kind of offensive punch Atlanta has been missing at shortstop, while also giving the Braves a player with a strong defensive reputation. Kim has held up well in the field, but his bat has not come close to matching expectations.
There’s also the clubhouse angle. Adames is viewed as a steady veteran voice, one who would fit alongside Matt Olson and Chris Sale if Atlanta decides to make a serious push to improve the lineup for the second half.
In Other News...
Braves Just Made Another Telling Move As Offensive Frustration Grows
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McCutchens arrival came alongside a separate roster shuffle that also brought INF Jim Jarvis back into the picture and sent INF Rowdy Tellez off the active roster. It is the kind of transaction that says plenty about where the Braves are right now: still looking for answers, still testing options, and still trying to find a combination that can ease the frustration building around the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Find One Reason For Hope In Another Costly Loss
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Hurston Waldrep provided the one encouraging note from the night. In his second big league appearance and first start of the season, he was tagged early but settled in enough to give the Braves something to build on, even if the outing still came with an early mistake that changed the tone. For a club searching for any sign of stability, Waldreps ability to recover may have mattered more than the final score, even as the larger issues kept piling up around him. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Shakeup Raises Another Big Question About Late Innings
The Braves kept tinkering with their bullpen mix Wednesday, activating left-hander Danny Young from the 60-day injured list and bringing back right-hander Anthony Molina as they continue to sort through the late-inning picture. Youngs return gives Atlanta another left-handed option after a long rehab stretch, while Molina is back for another look as the club tries to find steadier coverage out of the pen.
The moves came with a cost, as Ian Hamilton was designated for assignment after a rough run of recent outings, and this is his second such move of the season. Atlanta also had to clear another roster spot for Molina, a reminder that every bullpen adjustment now seems to carry a second question about who gets squeezed out next. [Read more 🡒]