Yesterday, additional free agent options began to emerge in MLB and one interesting player for the Guardians may be Ha-seong Kim, who declined his $16 million player option with the Atlanta Braves.
Let’s get to know Ha-seong Kim, RHH 2B/SS, 30 years old – Kim had an injury-riddled 2025, as he recovered from shoulder surgery, then had a back-strain, then a calf-strain. So, it’s probably fair not to put a TON of stock into his down 2025 season, if you can assume he will regain more normal health. So, for the fun of it, let’s look at his 2022-2024: 106 wRC+, 17.9/11 K/BB%, 15 DRS and 8 OAA at second base, and 16 DRS and 10 OAA at shortstop. He also put up a 128 wRC+ against LHP during that time period.
If, IF, IFFFF the Guardians believe Kim is likely to return to something more similar to his 2022-2024 numbers, a 2-3 year deal for him might make a lot of sense. With Kim capable of going either to second or short, it gives the team the ability to put him at either spot depending on the development and production of players like Brayan Rocchio and Travis Bazzana.
I can’t say this option is particularly LIKELY. Kim may not want to come to Cleveland, and the Guardians may really believe in their presumptive Rocchio-Bazzana combo to come. But, signing a player from South Korea might also be a great way to get a foot in the Asian market. And, I don’t see any particular reason to think the Guardians have a sure answer coming at shortstop in-house. There are players to hope on (Rocchio and Angel Genao), but signing Kim could bring some stable production in a key spot.
The only Kim free agency projection out there so far is Tim Britton of the Athletic’s, who says 3 years and $50 million. I think you can see that if Kim can be close to his 2022-2024 numbers, that’s a huge bargain. It also should in no way hamper the Guardians’ ability to improve in other ways. With that said, I’d expect the Guardians to probably only be interested in a 2-year deal, at most… because that’s how they roll.
Last season, the Guardians had the 28th worst offensive production from the shortstop position at a 63 wRC+. They were 21st in baseball against LHP from the shortstop position with an 81 wRC+. They were 15th in baseball with 7.6 Defensive WAR from the shortstop position. There is a clear opportunity to upgrade at the shortstop position and a healthy Ha-seong Kim offers clear potential to improve the team’s production both with the bat and the glove. Make a call, Chris Antonetti! Spend some dang money, Paul Dolan and David Blitzer!