Padres fans may soon be dealing with the one who got away. Ha-Seong Kim, a beloved versatile infielder for San Diego, is expected to hit free agency this upcoming offseason. While the Friars would love to have him back on the 2025 roster, it appears likely he will not come back to Petco Park.
Kim missed plenty of time down the stretch in the regular season due to a right shoulder injury, but managed to string together a solid slash line. He belted 30 extra-base hits, stole 22 bases, and walked 58 times in 121 games on the heels winning a Gold Glove last year.
Following four solid seasons in San Diego, Kim is more than likely to test the free agent market after hiring Scott Boras to be his agent, which essentially telegraphed his intentions before the offseason even arrived. Although Kim underwent surgery recently, he will still look for a better payday because of the demand for above-average shortstops.
It’s imperative that San Diego begins to look elsewhere at the position given the importance for adequate depth. While the Padres don’t need a long-term solution at this position, there are some interesting options to consider in the short-term.
Padres short-term shortstop options if Ha-Seong Kim leaves in free agency
Perhaps the best fit for San Diego’s shortstop vacancy is Kevin Newman. He recently turned 31 years old and has flown under the radar for the entirety of his career. Newman began his career playing in Pittsburgh for five years before spending one-year stints with the Reds and Diamondbacks.
With Arizona in 2024, he pulled off a career-best 2.2 bWAR behind a .278 batting average and eight stolen bases in 111 games. While he won’t put your lineup over the top, he is a consistent bat that will not cost the Padres much money. He’s also a terrific defender and has piled up the web gems on dives to his left.
One other short-term option is Amed Rosario. He played for three teams in 2024, batting .280 with 24 extra-base hits in 103 contests. The 28-year-old has struggled to find a consistent home after spending four years with the Mets to begin his career.
Before he was traded from the Rays to the Dodgers in July, he was swinging a red-hot bat that month. He swatted .386 in July across 44 at-bats, proving he can be a viable spark plug guy in the lineup while offering solid defense. He will not cost the Friars much money, either.
If San Diego officially says goodbye to Kim, among other Padre free agents, they should really look into Newman. He’ll slide in perfectly to the lineup to offset the power bats that dominate the offense. If they can’t ink a deal with him, Rosario isn’t the worst guy to sign if we’re solely talking short-term output. The current shortstop free agency pool isn’t strong this year, so settling for these guys on a one- or two-year deal may not be a bad move.
