After missing the first half of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, Kim was placed on waivers at the end of August by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Braves claimed him and assumed the remaining $1.89 million on his contract for the year, which was an uncommon move for a team that was already virtually guaranteed to miss the playoffs.

Knowing that Kim owns a $16 million player option for next season, the Braves were betting they could find a solution to their shortstop problem, which had plagued them for the last two years, without immediately losing him in free agency. Now that the last month of the season is played out, we know where at least one party stands.

On Saturday, Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos declared the club’s desire to keep Kim in Atlanta, as David O’Brien of The Athletic reported on social media.

“Shortstop, starting rotation and bullpen are the obvious (Braves) needs this winter,” O’Brien wrote on X. “Anthopoulos confirmed that, and said what we already knew — they want Kim, liked everything about the shortstop in his four weeks with (the) Braves.”

In 24 games for the Braves, Kim slashed .253/.316/.368, clubbing three home runs and posting an OPS+ of 93. Anything close to league-average offensive production at shortstop would be a huge boon to the Braves next season after the light-hitting performances of Orlando Arcia and Nick Allen over the last two years.

Kim has been a five-WAR player twice in his career, and it makes complete sense that Atlanta would want him back. But whether they can keep him from hitting the open market remains to be seen.

The shortstop market is thin this year, and Kim may be the best defender available if Atlanta doesn’t renegotiate his deal.

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