The SF Giants will be targeting a shortstop this winter and will be connected to one of the top shortstops on the market in Ha-Seong Kim. The Giants have a need but why would the slick-fielding shortstop choose San Francisco?

3 reasons why the SF Giants would appeal to a slick-fielding shortstop

The Giants have not had a good track record for landing superstars in free agency over the past couple of decades. Kim does not fit the description of a superstar but he has been a solid player through his four-year career.

In some ways, there is a sense of inevitability between the Giants and Kim in much the same way that was apparent with Matt Chapman and the Giants last offseason. It feels more like a matter of when, not if, Kim signs with San Francisco.

There are plenty of reasons why the Giants are targeting the 29-year-old infielder but there are a few reasons why Kim could be motivated to stay in the NL West.

1. The KBO Connection

Perhaps, the strongest connection is the KBO connection. Kim was teammates with Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee on the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO for two seasons starting in 2019. After the 2020 season, Kim came stateside to join the San Diego Padres.

As soon as the Giants inked Lee to a six-year, $113 million deal last offseason, speculation began that the Giants would be connected to Kim once he became a free agent. In fact, Lee quietly started that campaign as soon as he signed with the Giants. He told Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency that he would like to play on the same team again.

As Lee articulated, Kim was actually the first person that he called once he signed his long-term deal with San Francisco. These types of connections do not mean that a deal will take place but it does open the door for a conversation.

Plus, having a teammate that you have experience with from the KBO has got to help with the adjustment to playing in the United States.

3 reasons why the SF Giants would appeal to a slick-fielding shortstop

2. The Bob Melvin Connection

Bob Melvin’s two-year tenure with the San Diego Padres did not go as planned as his teams struggled to live up to the lofty expectations that came with the star talent on those rosters. When the Giants hired Melvin, one quality that they sought was someone who could help in recruiting. Despite the subpar 2024 win-loss record, the Giants did have quite a bit of success in free agency last winter.

Melvin has been managing for over 20 seasons and has established a lot of connections during that time. When he joined San Francisco, he brought many of the same members of his coaching staff over from the Padres. Melvin and his coaching staff had two years of experience with Ha-Seong Kim.

Since becoming the Giants’ manager, Melvin has often spoken positively about Kim and Kim about Melvin. When Jung Hoo Lee signed his long-term deal with the Giants, he reached out to Kim who told him that Melvin was a great manager.

Plus, Melvin has a strong reputation for managing players from the Pacific Rim. Much in the same way that Melvin had a connection to Matt Chapman last winter, it feels like a similar vibe between the Giants manager and Kim this time around.

3 reasons why the SF Giants would appeal to a slick-fielding shortstop

3. The Giants have an Obvious Need at Shortstop

The Giants have an obvious need at shortstop. Buster Posey clearly stated that the Giants would be targeting a shortstop this winter, meaning that Tyler Fitzgerald will move off of that position. Depending on how they view Fitzgerald, both middle infield positions could be up for grabs.

Ha-Seong Kim underwent shoulder surgery in October and is eyeing a return early in 2025. That could prove to be an obstacle to him landing a long-term deal. Teams could be hesitant and might want to see what he looks like both defensively and offensively following surgery.

Kim has flashed a relatively strong throwing arm during his career and that arm strength is key to being a good shortstop. The surgery was done on his throwing shoulder, so he will need to show that his arm strength is back to normal when he returns.

This could pave the way for a shorter-term deal with a chance to opt out after the first season. If Kim performs well, he may want to re-enter free agency with the chance of landing a bigger payday.

Of course, that payday could be dependent on what position he plays. Second base tends to be an easier position to fill, whereas finding a solid shortstop is much more difficult.

If the Giants sign the four-year veteran, it would pretty obviously be at shortstop. He has a strong track record at shortstop as he has been worth +24 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), +11 Outs Above Average (OAA), and +8 Fielding Run Value (FRV).

These are strong numbers and much better than what the Giants got from their shortstops in 2024. That unit was worth -11 DRS, -3 OAA, and -2 FRV. Teams cannot overlook defense at a premium position like shortstop but that was one of the many issues for the Giants last season.

Joining San Francisco likely offers a better opportunity to show what he can do at shortstop following surgery than some other organizations.