The Atlanta Braves have long viewed Ha-Seong Kim as an ideal candidate to be their full-time shortstop for the next several years. However, after the way he played in the final month of the season, there was growing concern that he might set Atlanta back by opting out of his contract.
“Because of this thin market, that would incentivise Kim to test the market. For that same reason, it’s even more important that the Braves find a way to retain his services,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote. “If he opts out and signs elsewhere, they could be back to square one with this dilemma. The offense has had its struggles as is, and they have, at least for now, figured out one of the issues.”
Earlier this week, Kim made it official when he opted out of the final year of his contract.
“Kim became a free agent on Monday when he opted out of his $16 million option for the 2026 season. For the Braves, this simply erases the exclusive negotiating rights they held since they had claimed the former Gold Glove Award winner off waivers from the Rays on Sept. 1,” Braves insider Mark Bowman wrote.
If Kim is unable to reach an agreement with Atlanta, Jorge Polanco could become an intriguing target for the Braves.
“There is a lot to like with Polanco as a new free agent target. Polanco has posted a wRC+ north of 100 in five of the last seven seasons and he also has experience playing all over the infield as well as being a DH. Atlanta definitely would need to employ him primarily as a shortstop, but having the flexibility to move him around to accommodate situations as they come up is definitely a plus. Polanco’s defensive metrics aren’t great, but they are good enough if he hits as much as he has in the past,” HTHB’s Eric Cole wrote.
Polanco is a proven veteran, and the Braves would be asking him to fill a much-needed role. Given how thin the shortstop market is expected to be, signing Polanco on a short-term deal wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The Braves can’t afford another season where the shortstop position fails to produce at the plate. It’s been one of their biggest problems for quite some time now.
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