Braves ink Ha-Seong Kim to one-year deal

Kim opted out of his player option with the Braves earlier in the offseason, which would have paid him $16 million. By doing so, he earned himself an extra $4 million while remaining on a one-year deal, allowing him to re-enter free agency after what the Braves hope will be a fully healthy season.

The 30-year-old spent most of last year on the injured list, appearing in just 48 games and hitting .234 with five home runs and a .649 OPS. That production isn’t exactly worth $20 million, but the bet here is that he looks a lot more like the player he was from 2021–2024, when he posted 15.1 WAR, won a Gold Glove, and maintained a .706 OPS while providing elite defense.

This move gives the Braves a clear starting shortstop and, just as importantly, allows Mauricio Dubon to slide into his ideal role as a super-utility piece. Dubon recorded at least one start at every position on the diamond last season, and that kind of versatility becomes even more valuable with Kim locking down shortstop.