The Atlanta Braves are locking in some infield stability, agreeing to a one-year, $20 million deal with shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, according to reports. It’s a move that signals confidence in Kim’s ability to anchor the middle of the diamond as the Braves gear up for another postseason push.
Kim, who was claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays in early September, declined a $16 million option for 2026, opting instead for a fresh start-and a raise-in Atlanta. Now 30 years old, the former Gold Glove winner is poised to take over as the Braves’ starting shortstop on Opening Day.
While his 2025 numbers don’t jump off the page-five home runs, 17 RBIs, six steals, and a .649 OPS over 48 games split between Tampa Bay and Atlanta-context matters. Kim was returning from shoulder surgery and also battled back issues throughout the season.
That kind of physical toll can sap a player’s rhythm at the plate, and it showed. But even in a limited sample, Kim flashed the defensive instincts and versatility that made him a standout in San Diego.
And that 2023 season with the Padres? That’s the version the Braves are hoping to get.
Kim was a force on both sides of the ball, hitting 17 homers, driving in 60 runs, swiping 38 bags, and finishing with a .749 OPS. His 4.2 fWAR that year wasn’t just a career high-it was a statement.
He brought elite glove work, smart baserunning, and enough pop to keep pitchers honest.
For Atlanta, this deal is about more than just numbers. It’s about fit.
Kim brings a high baseball IQ, defensive reliability, and the kind of grit that tends to thrive in the Braves’ clubhouse culture. With questions swirling around the infield depth chart, especially at short, Kim offers a steady hand and a proven track record.
If he can stay healthy and recapture even a portion of that 2023 form, this could be one of the more underrated moves of the offseason. The Braves are betting on bounce-back potential-and if it pays off, they’ll have a dynamic piece in the heart of the infield, both with the glove and on the basepaths.