Ha-Seong Kim a no-brainer off-season signing?

[Scooterfletcher]

I think he’d be perfect for a 2-3 year at 18-20m per deal if it’s there to be had.   Allows us to deal Pratt for the right bat or arm and Kim transitions to Jesus Made down the road.   I think he screams brewers fit to Matt Arnold.   Thoughts?

[sveumrules]

3 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

I think he’d be perfect for a 2-3 year at 18-20m per deal if it’s there to be had.   Allows us to deal Pratt for the right bat or arm and Kim transitions to Jesus Made down the road.   I think he screams brewers fit to Matt Arnold.   Thoughts?

I think Kim exercises his $16M player option following the season because no one is giving him more than that after his lackluster comeback campaign - 93 wRC+ and 0.4 WAR over 179 PA.

[adambr2]

He doesn’t profile much differently than Ortiz — slick fielding RH middle infielder with a pretty light bat.

Kim is probably an upgrade, but not enough to justify 18-20M a year.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

On no timeline does a well run, small market MLB organization in this economic system sign a free agent to pave the way to be able to trade a prospect. That's just not how it works. They may sign a stop gap free agent when they don't have an in-house replacement ready to go, but they're not trading away a young player they're high on just for the right to hand out a big contract to someone else. And then to call it a no-brainer, no less. Taking note of how the Brewers operate would be a great first step at avoiding these proposals that make no sense

[Scooterfletcher]

Fair points.   I’m high on my salary suggestion.   I do feel he opts out and is someone we will target at “our” price. 

[TURBO]

2 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Fair points.   I’m high on my salary suggestion.   I do feel he opts out and is someone we will target at “our” price. 

Ummmm yeah, but above, that price you called a no brainer, was 18-20 million per season.

That is just plain old gross.

Not a chance, not even a slim chance that this is a consideration.

[Brian]

Ha-Seong Kim is injury prone! I don't want him. 

[tmwiese55]

I'd be curios if MKE would've put in a claim with him if he got to us in waivers a few weeks ago.   I would've done that and the hoped he could take Ortiz spot this year and opt in for next year to cover for one more year as the prospects get ready.  I doubt they would have done it though due the salary

Giving him 2-3 years though after two injury seasons in a row, no thanks.  My guess is he opts in or works out something with ATL to stay

[jay87shot]

I think if we are looking to improve SS next year JP Crawford would be the only non blockbuster vet trade that seems logical to me. He has one year left and the M's have Colt Young and Colt Emerson is close. That being said I don't really see the M's taking that risk and trading Crawford.

As mentioned above, Kim likely picks up his option. I doubt he would make much more than 10-12 million on a 1 year deal on the market.

I don't see it happening but I do think the Angels would be smart to trade us Neto for a depth trade. Neto for Patrick, Myers, Childers, Ortiz, Mitchell, and Wilken, this gives us a stud SS and the Angels get a crazy amount of depth that there organization badly needs.

[ghostdrew]

1 hour ago, jay87shot said:

I think if we are looking to improve SS next year JP Crawford would be the only non blockbuster vet trade that seems logical to me. He has one year left and the M's have Colt Young and Colt Emerson is close. That being said I don't really see the M's taking that risk and trading Crawford.

As mentioned above, Kim likely picks up his option. I doubt he would make much more than 10-12 million on a 1 year deal on the market.

I don't see it happening but I do think the Angels would be smart to trade us Neto for a depth trade. Neto for Patrick, Myers, Childers, Ortiz, Mitchell, and Wilken, this gives us a stud SS and the Angels get a crazy amount of depth that there organization badly needs.

Really 6 guys for neto not even close way to much of an over pay for a position that we have alot  of prospects.

[Scooterfletcher]

I think Kim is one of the only guys to target in free agency.   Maybe a Bellinger type bat that goes unnoticed in free agency later if something like that were to happen to him, Naylor, Suarez, etc.   Otherwise it’s prudent to stand pat largely this off season.  Explore extending Turang maybe?  Explore extending Uribe maybe?   Idk.   We are sitting pretty good regardless if we go 0-3 in playoffs (not happening).

[TURBO]

3 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

I think Kim is one of the only guys to target in free agency.   Maybe a Bellinger type bat that goes unnoticed in free agency later if something like that were to happen to him, Naylor, Suarez, etc.   Otherwise it’s prudent to stand pat largely this off season.  Explore extending Turang maybe?  Explore extending Uribe maybe?   Idk.   We are sitting pretty good regardless if we go 0-3 in playoffs (not happening).

Kim a Bellinger type bat?

Dude...

[Team Canada]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

Kim a Bellinger type bat?

Dude...

That's not what he said at all.

[wntrtxn21]

I think Kim is a moot point. After the year he had there is zero chance he turns down the $16M player option he has. No way any team is going to offer him anything close to that in the open market. Then if he has a decent year, he hits FA with more to offer. 

[jay87shot]

20 hours ago, ghostdrew said:

Really 6 guys for neto not even close way to much of an over pay for a position that we have alot  of prospects.

None of those 6 guys have big value, Neto probably has a value similar to Garrett Crochet. Myers and Patrick are like 4-7 starters for us, Childers would be the 3rd-ish reliever in AAA. Ortiz is solid but his bat drives down the value, Mitchell is like our 5th/6th OF next year if he makes the team, and Wilken is a borderline top 250 prospect. Neto has 2, 5 WAR season and cheap control, I like our prospects but Made could move to 3B and we could trade Pratt for help somewhere else. I would guess in teams of value from the baseball trade values website my offer probably is a relative low ball offer for Neto.

From my perspective, we get a hidden star without giving up a big player (only depth) and the Angels get 2 starters and a reliever, 2 young starting caliber position players and a power prospect a year away. 

[TURBO]

11 hours ago, Team Canada said:

That's not what he said at all.

Looks like it to me.  What was he saying then?

[jay87shot]

The way I read it was that he is saying Kim is the only obvious target unless someone like Bellinger (or a different good bat he said like Naylor or Suarez) goes unsigned and we can get them for cheap.

[Team Canada]

1 hour ago, jay87shot said:

The way I read it was that he is saying Kim is the only obvious target unless someone like Bellinger (or a different good bat he said like Naylor or Suarez) goes unsigned and we can get them for cheap.

Yes, exactly. These are clearly two separate statements:

I think Kim is one of the only guys to target in free agency.  

Maybe a Bellinger type bat that goes unnoticed in free agency later if something like that were to happen to him, Naylor, Suarez, etc

[TURBO]

Braves beat writer Mark Bowman expects Ha-Seong Kim to decline his $16 million player option with the Braves.

 

Kim struggled in his return from shoulder surgery, hitting .234/.304/.345 in 191 plate appearances for the Rays and Braves, but he was trending up some at the end of the year. Plus, it’s an uncrowded field at shortstop this winter, with Kim ranking second or third at the position behind Bo Bichette and maybe Trevor Story if he opts out of his deal. Even if teams would be wary of signing him to a long-term deal, Kim should be able to beat $16 million on a one-year deal.

 

Source: MLB.com

[ReverendBrewmeister]

If Kim does decline the player option, it would be Interesting to see if he might be a signable to a one-year contract for what would be the second year after his injury. Maybe even a two-year contract. It's worth looking into, though I don't anticipate it happening. 

I know that it wouldn't be a major needle moving signing, but I'd even consider looking at Kiner-Falefa on a one-year contract to help push Ortiz/fill the void, while not blocking any potential development of Pratt and others for the longterm shortstop position.

[TURBO]

I have a serious question, I mean it, it's a serious question:

Why does Kiner-Falefa keep coming up as a target for so many posters here?  Seriously, what has he done to make anyone even consider signing this dude?  What am I missing, enlighten me please...

[ReverendBrewmeister]

14 hours ago, TURBO said:

I have a serious question, I mean it, it's a serious question:

Why does Kiner-Falefa keep coming up as a target for so many posters here?  Seriously, what has he done to make anyone even consider signing this dude?  What am I missing, enlighten me please...

That's a very fair question and that other posters might be able to make a better case, but here's why Kiner-Falefa seems to be a target:

(1) Salary Cost: He is within a price range that the Brewers seem to make free agent signings at. 

(2) Availability: During the last trade deadline time period, he was on the Pittsburgh roster, a team that was definitely a seller in 2025 and probably should have sold more. Additionally, there weren't any real great shortstop candidates in the 2025 trade market

(3) Versatility: He is capable of being a starting shortstop but is probably more of a utility player. When thinking of the holes on the Brewers roster midseason in 2025, that seemed to be the issue: trying to upgrade from Ortiz–potentially also from Durbin–in the starting lineup, while also being a capable bench player if he was taking Monasterio's spot on the roster.

(4) Potential Contract Length: He has been playing on shorter contracts. He was signed for 2 years/$15 million in Pittsburgh. If he were signed to a similar deal for 2026 & 2027, that wouldn't block the Brewers elite prospects at shortstop (Pratt, Made, Peña) coming through the system.

So I don't think there's a clamoring for Kiner-Falefa among posters, other than looking for the least rotten apple towards the bottom of the barrel.

Kim would be a better signing, but would he sign for what the Brewers might pay for a free agent?

[jay87shot]

I don't think Kim is worth 1/16, that being said the Braves at the very least feel like he is worth 1/16 so I would think that should be his baseline. Unless the Braves pivot and no one else believes he is worth that.

[TURBO]

4 hours ago, ReverendBrewmeister said:

That's a very fair question and that other posters might be able to make a better case, but here's why Kiner-Falefa seems to be a target:

(1) Salary Cost: He is within a price range that the Brewers seem to make free agent signings at. 

(2) Availability: During the last trade deadline time period, he was on the Pittsburgh roster, a team that was definitely a seller in 2025 and probably should have sold more. Additionally, there weren't any real great shortstop candidates in the 2025 trade market

(3) Versatility: He is capable of being a starting shortstop but is probably more of a utility player. When thinking of the holes on the Brewers roster midseason in 2025, that seemed to be the issue: trying to upgrade from Ortiz–potentially also from Durbin–in the starting lineup, while also being a capable bench player if he was taking Monasterio's spot on the roster.

(4) Potential Contract Length: He has been playing on shorter contracts. He was signed for 2 years/$15 million in Pittsburgh. If he were signed to a similar deal for 2026 & 2027, that wouldn't block the Brewers elite prospects at shortstop (Pratt, Made, Peña) coming through the system.

So I don't think there's a clamoring for Kiner-Falefa among posters, other than looking for the least rotten apple towards the bottom of the barrel.

Kim would be a better signing, but would he sign for what the Brewers might pay for a free agent?

Meh

None of those reasons are good enough for a team with pennant aspirations for the next few seasons.

Hard pass for me.  If we have to go that low and are that desperate, I's stick with Joey.

[BrewerFan]

On 9/26/2025 at 6:31 PM, Scooterfletcher said:

I think he’d be perfect for a 2-3 year at 18-20m per deal if it’s there to be had.   Allows us to deal Pratt for the right bat or arm and Kim transitions to Jesus Made down the road.   I think he screams brewers fit to Matt Arnold.   Thoughts?

No...

1-I don't know that he's an upgrade from Ortiz. In fact... I'm going to bet he's a downgrade. He's not as good of a defender and I know how we're all writing off Ortiz after a poor offensive season this year, but I think he'll be closer to '24. He's got good bat speed, patience.

BUT... lets say he is an upgrade. +100 OPS. That's not worth it for the Brewers to spend 20M AND;

2-We're trading a young, GG caliber SS in AA? A guy who COULD easily develop into a 20-25HR a year type threat... and what are we getting? 

If we were going to make a trade like that, I would have understood it if you wanted to add a guy like Duran or an elite BP arm with team control(don't think you're getting a better starter than we have). 

 

We MIGHT be able to spend 20-30M in Free Agency. I think that's an optimistic number. I don't actually think we will, but... lets say we have that much to spend. 

I don't want to spend it on the position with the most depth in the system.