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

[Jopal78]

On 10/13/2025 at 3:14 PM, TURBO said:

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.

Logically, why would they pull the plug on Joey Ortiz anyway?

The glove plays, pre-arbitration salary in ‘26, has already  demonstrated some hitting ability in the majors in ‘24,  BABiP suggests he was unlucky this year when the league average was 30 points higher than his.

Second, for a club that doesn’t sign free agents to multi year deals very often to begin with,  it seems unlikely they would break character to replace a player like Ortiz. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

On 10/13/2025 at 8:46 AM, 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?

I was one of the posters who brought up IKF this summer. You pretty much nailed the reasons why. Except I was thinking rental, not long term.

[Jim French Stepstool]

On 10/13/2025 at 1:14 PM, TURBO said:

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.

When I advocated for him, it was as a depth piece for the latter stages of the '25 season, for the reasons @ReverendBrewmeisteralluded to.

I never thought about him for '26 & beyond, so I agree with you there.

[bensheeps]

From The Athletic today talking about Boras' top 10 free agents was this nugget.  I know the source is Jim Bowden, but at least the Brewers get a mention during hot stove time.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6855991/2025/12/03/scott-boras-free-agents-ranked-mlb-winter-meetings/

8. Ha-Seong Kim, 2B/SS/3B

Kim’s best year was with the Padres in 2023 when he slashed .260/.351/.398 with 23 doubles, 17 home runs and 38 stolen bases to go along with Gold Glove defense for his work at second base. However, a serious shoulder injury ended his 2024 season early. It also derailed his 2025 season, allowing him to play in just 48 games combined with the Rays and Braves. He’s healthy now and there is tremendous interest in the 30-year-old, including from both the Braves and Brewers, and he would immediately be an upgrade at shortstop for either of them, assuming his arm strength is fully back in 2026.