After a disappointing season, the San Francisco Giants are shaking things up.
The team has moved on from president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi after the front office spent more than $200 million on offseason additions that largely fell flat. They’ve now appointed franchise legend Buster Posey in his stead and fans can be hopeful the roster will see some turnover as well.
Reflecting on the moves that Posey “needs to make” for FanSided, Chris Landers urged the new president to poach a premier free agent away from the National League West division rival San Diego Padres by signing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.
“The utility man has experience with manager Bob Melvin in San Diego, and he’s a decent bat who can play better-than-decent defense anywhere in the infield,” Landers noted. “He’s exactly the kind of player who can plug holes anywhere you need without blocking anyone more important to the franchise’s future, which would make him a great fit.”
Kim had a respectable .233/.330/.370 slash line with 11 homers and 22 stolen bases in 470 at bats for the Padres this season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in mid-August. He and the Padres have a $7 million mutual option for a 2025 reunion, but Kim seems likely to earn a larger deal if he opts to hit free agency instead.
Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report projected that Kim would earn a four-year, $68 million contract in his next deal.
Adding a premier infielder like Kim would be a splashy way for Posey to start his tenure. And his infield versatility could be key for the franchise’s future. Kim made all of his 2024 starts at shortstop, but was primarily a second baseman and also saw 29 starts at third base in 2023. Moving Kim around the infield over the next few seasons would allow the Giants to test out their younger players, like Bryce Eldridge and Marco Luciano.
“Maybe he plays second if Luciano’s defense doesn’t develop; maybe he forms a shortside platoon with LaMonte Wade Jr. at first while Eldridge gets some more seasoning in the Minors,” Landers suggested.
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