Braves insider on Ha-Seong Kim’s critical free agent decision

Alex Anthopoulos was transparent about the Braves’ most pressing needs entering the offseason. He acknowledged that the pitching staff needs a significant overhaul — with additions required in both the rotation and bullpen — and that shortstop must finally be addressed, whether the solution is Ha-Seong Kim or someone from outside the organization.

Kim faces a decision in the coming weeks regarding his $16 million player option, even if his 2025 campaign makes it seem like less of a dilemma. He spent much of the season on the injured list, appearing in just 48 games between the Rays and Braves while hitting .234 with a .649 OPS.

However, Kim finished the year healthy and performed much better over the final month with Atlanta. Combine that with an extremely thin market for starting shortstops, and it’s easy to see why he might test free agency. At worst, he’d be one of the top three shortstops available. According to Braves beat reporter Mark Bowman, that appears to be Kim’s likely path.

“Time will tell whether the Braves gain a long-term benefit from the $2 million recruiting visit they created for Ha-Seong Kim during this season’s final month,” Bowman wrote. “Kim is expected to decline his $16 million option for the 2026 season and become a commodity on what will be a thin free-agent market for shortstops. The Braves could attempt to strike a multi-year deal with the former Gold Glove infielder before or after the free-agent market opens.”

Given Ha-Seong Kim is represented by MLB super-agent Scott Boras — who is notorious for squeezing every penny out of organizations for his client — this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. More than likely, Kim will be able to land some sort of multi-year deal with a team because of his track record, age, and lack of options on the market at such an important position like shortstop.

The fact that the Braves are so desperate to find an answer at the position doesn’t give them a ton of power at the bargaining table either, and Boras is the type of agent that will not overlook that.

If Atlanta wants to keep Kim, they’ll almost certainly have to commit to a multi-year deal. That shouldn’t deter them too much, though. The organization doesn’t have any shortstop prospects close to major-league ready, and the position remains one of the few long-term question marks on the roster. A multi-year solution — whether it’s Kim or someone else — is the logical move.

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