The Atlanta Braves' shopping list this coming offseason is pretty extensive at the moment. In the likely event that both Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias leave in free agency, that would leave Atlanta needing to find several new relievers, at least one starting pitcher, and a bat that could serve at least part-time as a DH. Complicating their plans is the current uncertainty around Ha-Seong Kim and the shortstop position.
Through his first 12 games with the Braves, Kim has been everything they could have realistically asked for with a .286/.354/.381 line while providing very solid defense at short. In fact, Kim has been so good that the possibility he could decline his 2026 option and hit free agency is even higher than it already was when he joined the Braves. Given the state of the free agency market, that would leave the Braves either having to settle for a downgrade or (probably) turn their attention to the trade market.
Braves insider Mark Bowman does seem to agree that there is a real possibility that Kim could test free agency. However, Bowman also pointed out yet again that the Braves could be so impressed with what Kim has brought to their club that locking Kim up on an extension is very much in play.
Braves signing Ha-Seong Kim to an extension feels like it should be a top priority
Obviously wanting Kim to sign an extension and actually getting him to sign one are two very different things. After all, Kim didn't hire Scott Boras to be his agent unless he wasn't trying to get the most money possible. Combine Boras' presence with what looks like a very, very shallow shortstop market this coming offseason and you have a scenario that could play very much to the soon-to-be 30 year-old Kim's advantage this offseason.
However, that doesn't mean that all hope is lost. Kim is about to turn 30 after all and between his age and recent injury history, the appetite to hand him some sort of mega deal based on a small sample of games with Atlanta isn't likely to be high. Complicating his free agency case is that his profile isn't typically one that commands big money as he is a glove-first contact hitter most of the time. You don't see a lot of guys with a career .700 OPS with marginal power getting nine figure deals in baseball.
It feels like there should be a common ground between the Braves and Kim that could be found. Kim certainly deserves more than the one year, $16 million left on his deal and would easily beat that as a free agent. However, perhaps a deal in the four to five year range at $18 million AAV could be enough to entice him to stay with a (usually) very competitive Braves team where he is already comfortable. That gives him a raise and financial security while not forcing the Braves to overcommit their limited resources to sign him.
If it takes more than that to convince Kim to stay, Atlanta probably has to send him on his way with their gratitude for his good work this season. One hopes it doesn't come to that, but the Braves shouldn't force any deal for Kim or anyone else.