Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim declined his end of an $8MM mutual option for the 2025 season, and he’ll now take a $2MM buyout and enter free agency, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin reports (X link). Left-hander Wandy Peralta will be staying in San Diego for at least one more season, as Peralta will pass on his opt-out clause and remain in the four-year, $16.5MM deal he signed with the Padres last winter.
Neither decision registers as a surprise. Kim has hit .250/.336/.385 over the past three years for a wRC+ of 106, indicating he has been 6% above league average at the plate in that time. He also stole 72 bases in that stretch and provided above-average defense at shortstop, second base and third base.
His situation is a bit complicated by the fact that he underwent right labrum surgery not too long ago. His return timetable is a bit unclear but it has been suggested he is likely to miss at least part of the start of the 2025 season.
Even with that injury situation, it’s understandable that he would walk away from his mutual option at a net $6MM price point. Players coming back from injury can often still have notable earning power. Michael Conforto secured a two-year, $36MM deal from the Giants after missing an entire season. Rhys Hoskins got two years and $34MM from the Brewers after his own missed campaign. Both players had the ability to opt out after one season, though neither eventually did so.
The situations aren’t entirely analogous. Both Conforto and Hoskins were expected to be healthy in the first seasons of their deals, which won’t be the case with Kim. Perhaps that puts his earning power a bit below those two, but it still makes it sensible for him to turn down his option today. Whether he can get a two-year deal with an opt-out or a more straightforward one-year pillow deal, he should be able to get past the $6MM he’s leaving on the table today.
For the Padres, they will now have to figure out what to do at shortstop. When Kim was hurt late in the year, they moved Xander Bogaerts from second to short. It’s unclear whether they would want to do that for the long term as they just decided a year ago to have Bogaerts take on the less-demanding second base spot. Jackson Merrill came up as a shortstop before getting moved to center field for 2024. He could switch back but performed so well in center that the club might decide to keep him there.
The free agent market is headlined by Willy Adames but the Padres have some payroll limitations and probably aren’t the most logical landing spot for him. The trade market could feature Bo Bichette but it’s unclear if the Blue Jays will make him available.
As for Peralta, he signed with the Padres last winter on a four-year deal with a $16.5MM guarantee and opt-outs after each season. He went on to have a pretty mediocre season, despite a respectable 3.99 earned run average. His 52.9% ground ball rate was still above league average but his worst in a full season since 2019. His strikeout rate fell to 13.6% this year after being in the 18-23% range in the previous five years.
It it weren’t for a fairly low .233 batting average on balls in play, he would have allowed more runs to score. His 5.46 FIP and 4.57 SIERA disagree on how bad things were under the hood but both suggest the ERA is misleading. After that performance, he’ll stick with the Padres and hope for a better season, with the chance of returning to free agency again a year from now.
That Peralta contract is horrible. Kim is probably the most fascinating player on the market.
SS is so thin on the market this year. I can see Kim’s logic, since whoever misses out in Adames is probably going after him.
But Kim’s bat really isn’t that exciting.
As for Conforto and Haniger, the reason the two didn’t opt-out of their second season was because they were both awful. That continued into their 2024 seasons. That’s a lot of money for a club to piss away.
Kim’s bat is league average and his defense is well above average… when he is healthy. The problem is that there is no way to know if he will ever be able to throw with the same velocity and accuracy again until mid next season. Maybe not even then.
I am a big fan of Kim, but if his arm is not sound then he is a big risk.
They have several bad contracts in that bullpen bedside Peralta. Add Matsui and Suarez to that list.
Agree about Matsui, but $10M AAV isn’t that bad for one of the better closers (Suarez)
Should be easy to trade then. Suarez, Matsui, Morejon and Campusano to Toronto for Bichette.
Heck no
How is Matsui’s contract bad? He put up a 3.73 ERA, meaning 10% better than league average in his first season in MLB, and he will make $5.5 million in 2025, which is $650k more than league average. If all he ever does is repeat what he did in 2024, its not bad. Not great, but definitely not bad. Its what late inning relievers are paid.
So explain if you can why you think its a bad deal?
Suarez is a great deal. 2.77 ERA. 36 saves. Just $10 million, which is not in the top 12 for relievers in 2024. Its 50-60% of what the top closers are making and he was in the top 5 this season.
A question Dan, do you ever make a comment that is even in proximity to reality? Or just whatever trolling pops into your head.
Have you ever gone to a game and see them pitch?
Pretty obvious you haven’t Dan. Otherwise you would have mentioned specifics of why you think that they are bad contracts. Fat, ugly, and troll is no way to go through life son.
@Pads Fans. I both disagree and agree with you, 3.73 for a RP making $5.5 isn’t great, but maybe “bad” isn’t the word. And we’ll see how the mid-term contract plays out.
Brew, He made $3.25 million in 2024. It was a decent contract for the performance.
In 2025 he will make $5.5 million. If what we see from him in 2025 is what we saw in the 2nd half of 2024, 3.63 ERA/11.7 SO9/7.25SO/W then its still a good deal.
Only time will tell. So far, its a decent deal.
So you are saying you just post whatever trolling pops into your head. That you really have no clue what you are talking about, but just need attention so bad that you feel a need to say something hateful or stupid to get people to respond to you. Good to know.
HSK rarely drinks beer, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis
$4m aav is not horrible
How is Peralta’s contract bad? He put up an ERA under 4.00, meaning better than league average, and he will make $4.25 million in 2025, which is less than league average. If all he ever does is repeat what he did in 2024, its not bad. Not great, but definitely not bad.
If he returns to the 2.82 ERA he put up the 3 previous seasons in NY, then he opts out after 2025 and gets more guaranteed money.
So explain if you can why you think its a bad deal?
There is a reason they were not used in high leverage situations in the post season. They are unreliable and qualify as mop up guys. You can get mop guys for league minimum. As a matter of fact they already have mop guys on the roster for less cost. So take that $10M and put towards something you need like a SS, OF or SP. Problem is, no other team will want them without sweeteners, because they don’t want to pay more than league minimum for mop up guys.
You mean besides the fact that the Padres had Suarez, Scott, and Estrada in the late innings?
Peralta was used in high leverage situations in 15 of his 46 appearances.
Matsui was used in high leverage situations in 27 of his 64 appearances.
How does it feel to be wrong so consistently?
And why did they get Scott, Adam and Hoeing. Bc Preller knew those two sucked. He would love to have that $10M per back.
Those two made $7.5 million. Another fact you missed.
Preller told everyone why he went after high end relievers in trade. Injuries to starters and Yu taking personal time off. Peralta was also injured in July and was not expected to make it back.
Matsui pitched VERY well. a 3.73 ERA, a .200 BAA in high leverage situations, and he improved in the 2nd half.
But that doesn’t fit your narrative so you will try to spin it again. Just face facts Dan, or should I call you Ryan. you are wrong again.
I will put it this way and leave it here. According to Fangraphs, Suarez was worth $7.2 M, Matsui $2.7M and Peralta a negative $3.6M. Suarez AAV is $9.2M, Matsui is $5.6M and Peralta is 4.125M. They all have multiple years left on their deals. You could not give Peralta away even if you paid 100% of his contract. To trade Matsui you need to sweeten it. Suarez has value. But as we all saw, MLB hitters can catchup with 100 MPH fastballs down the middle of the plate.
Thanks Web, but I can handle a troll like FanDan.
Peralta’s 5.46 FIP indicates his season was probably worse than his 3.99 ERA. That’s not the value they hoped for.
Fascinating in what way?
He’s fascinating to me after reading all the comments below. It appear no one read the article. Kim is being talked about as if he’s perfectly healthy and coming off a buffo season.
This guy was supposed to be back to the Padres in August-early September. He couldn’t throw. He had an operation. Excuse me…..the man is a risk. Even if he recovers fully he’s going to miss a part of the 2025 season. The man’s being marketed as a SS. Any guarantee that after the operation he’ll have the same arm strength? That’s sort of important when it comes to playing SS. And what effect will that surgery have on his hitting?
Kim might have preference for West Coast teams so Korean fans can watch him more in their waking hours.
I can see him a good fit for SF, SEA but also seems like the type of versatile player GM AA of ATL likes to construct his team. I think he gets a 4 year contract but who knows maybe a 5 year.
Salary guess 4 years for 45M plus 5th year option
Anyone know what the percentage of mutual options get picked up? It can’t be too high. I would imagine it’s similar to the number of QOs that get accepted.
Wayyyy less than QOs, like >1% of Mutuals get activated.
Most recent was Matt Belisle with the Rockies 11 years ago. Most recent before that one was Jason Giambi with those same Rockies 2 years earlier.
Robbie Ray with the Giants picked up his player option today.
That’s not what this is about though.
@websoulsurfer We are talking about mutual options. If Robbie Ray’s option had been a mutual option the Giants would have declined their end of it.
Could X-Man help his 2025 team by re-negotiating and deferring a significant portion of his guaranteed money. I know agents don’t like to set a precedent and it might not be allowed by MLB CBA.
It happens in the NFL and it seems to be a big differrence between just a playoff contender and a potential SuperBowl winner.
That contract is Hosmer 2.0 only worse. An “Albatross” and I am a fan of Xanders versatility and overall game. Can play SS, 2B, DH and probably some 1B. World Series Champion, playoff experience tested. Sincerely NOT throwing shade.
IF SDP including significant $ do you think there are any teams that would take him?
As a NYM fan I might be interested but has to be significant $ (like 50M)
Allowed, yes. Will he? No.
No. The MLBPA would not allow it unless there was a significant increase in the total dollar amount that made the value the same.
Gwynning! Glad you are still around here kicking butt! How are the Pads looking next season? Rematch with LA?
Yuppers! Good to hear from you Trumbo, Happy Offseason amigo!
Very rarely do both sides agree on a value from a year+ ago. The most recent year performance will more than likely lead to the player seeking more money or the team trying to get out of the contract.
I thought this might have been the one ! 1 year/6 mil net to prove u can bounce back from injury then hit open market ? Gamble on yourself. Then pads almost certainly pick that up
Kim can and will beat $6m on a one year deal.
About 20% of player options, 9 of 44, were picked up the last 4 seasons. I don’t know about both ends of a mutual option.
Rockies did it with Jason Giambi in 2011 and Matt Belisle in 2013. But then they’re the Rockies. They don’t operate like most teams. Can’t remember any other instances.
Hello Seattle.
Works for me.
Jerry Dipstick needs to sign Kim if he wants to keep his job. The only problem is abrasive Scott Borex is his agent.
Dipstick and Borex…is that supposed to be humor?
The first of many leaving San Diego after seeing where the franchise is headed. Good for him. Good for Kim
Yeah, sucks to be on a team that almost beat the WS champs in the playoffs
…But didn’t.
Lame reasoning on your part. Not surprised
You’re an id10t. Padres are one of the best teams in baseball. Go pound sound dolt
Where is the franchise headed?
Down the hall. Third door on the left. Make sure you wash your hands when you’re done.
Seems like you must be very familiar, since that’s where a POS goes lol.
Kim is an example of another deft signing by the Padres, he served the team well, now another team can overpay him.
Always a hater out there lol
@TerryTurnbuckle I’m pretty sure Kim just wants a better payday, and it has jack squat to do with any narrative about the franchise.
Yeah the franchise that literally just set an all-time attendance record for the team is definitely heading in the wrong direction… oh wait, that makes no sense.
Lets go goose!
That’s what’s IIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN!
Hope we end up bringing back Kim. He seems like a good teammate and a valuable player and important part of our team.
Preller: I got 99 shortstops but a Kim ain’t one.
Good one.
Kim will get $2 million to walk , now needing to get at least $6mill elsewhere to even out… dude will easily get $12-14 million on a 2-4 year deal. 3/42 or 2/ 30 are both great
I’d be surprised if he gets 3/42 given he’ll miss part of 2025 and turns 30 next year. But maybe. A lot of teams need a solid glove at SS
Prior to the injury Kim was expected to get 5/50 to 6/65. The nature of this injury and the surgery ended any chance of that. 2/16 with a mutual $12 million option? Still more guaranteed money than what he would have received had he exercised his end of the option.
I’m plus the two dudes mentioned in article – it didn’t pan out well for team signing them. I think he struggles to get signed
I hope the Giants sign Kim. Would be great addition
SFBay314 — He might look good to you in that uni but he’ll do nothing for the SF offense. Giants need to go HARD on Adames and move Fitz to 2b.
Kim would look good in KC batting leadoff and playing 3B. They already have a pretty good SS there.
Yeah, there was no chance Wandy was walking away from that money.
Good for him
they shlt on him after that great 2022
By continuing to feature him prominently until he got hurt? I’m not following.
No sure I understand that comment either. The Padres moved one of the top SS on the league off the position to give Kim a full time shot there. Kim didn’t perform and then got hurt.
They were hoping for 2023 Kim but sure didn’t get it in 2024
So much for Pads Fans + burners repeating over and over again that Kim would exercise his option.
Haven’t seen too many of them.
It would have made some sense for Kim to opt in if he thought a signing team would frown at his physical, but he and his doctors appear confident. More power to him.
I’d love him with the padres, but he can sure make more for an eager team.
Mutual option. If there was something wrong with his physical the Padres would have declined their end of the option.
Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Kim stays. But it was never going to be via the mutual option.
I would be surprised if the padres re-signed him for price point he’ll ask for. Only in a cool market would it happen.
Ryan, you said that the Padres would decline their end of the option if Kim exercised his. Now you are changing your tune? Why?
Rushing to your own defense from one of your burners. Classic.
The only way Kim exercises his end of the option is if he is worth less than that dollar figure. If he is worth less that that dollar figure the Padres will decline their end of it. The only way both sides pick it up is if his true value lands exactly on that dollar figure. Not a cent higher or a cent lower.
I don’t have the patience to deal with burner accounts. Or the general tit for tat that would require them.
You’re right Nando, if Kim was too injured padres would decline their end of the option.
Let’s not forget there’s a middle ground, the “Carlos Correa” zone.
However you cook it, kim opting out tells me he’s confident on himself and how teams will view him.
I’m not a “Ryan burner.” I’ve used this as my sole account for years. Used to include my full last name. So I’m sorry you’ve equated my views with the other Ryan you’re referring to.
Projection, thy name is Ryan. So how many accounts do you have now Ryan? 8? 9? Active ones I mean.
Don’t like that you got called out on your BS so you try to say other people have burners? Now that is classic.
Puhleeeze you are the emperor of burner accounts and projection.
“One of me is more than enough!”
“Pull your head out!”
“Say goodbye!”
“I have zero time for the willfully ignorant!”
Ryan, just admit that you have multiple accounts. We all know you have many accounts and no one else except you has time for more than one.
Are you ever gonna use PLTuna or YourDaddy again?
JSC, Ryan always like to accuse others of what he does with his multiple accounts. At least 5 currently. Maybe more. I have lost track.
Are they BaseballisLife, outinleftfield, Koamalu, YourDaddy, PLTuna, The Padfather, Impressionsplus, HealthnFreedom and TvforHotels?
The current ones of yours are Ringworm, PadresWSChamps, Rally Goose, Harambe, and at least one other that is not coming to mind.
Why don’t you tell us all the other accounts you are using right now Ryan?
Oh yeah, West Coast Ryan’s Intellectual Takes. You haven’t had one yet, so guess we will have to wait another 15 years to see if you can come up with one.
Stay triggered lil’ bro lol
That’s cute lol
Another of your accounts is Bauer? I hardly Knew Here.
More will come to mind.
Ryan, everything you accuse others of you are the one actually doing it. It’s how you know to accuse others.
WCRIT and BIHKH literally muted me but believe what you want homie.
You are admitting you are Ryan but you muted yourself?
No and no
Thanks for the hustle Ha Seong. Its been fun having you as a Padre. I sincerely hope your rehab goes well and you can return to being the player we saw in San Diego by 2026.
For those that are arguing over when he will be back, Preller said that Kim won’t even be able to begin his throwing program until after the season starts in April. Once he can throw across the diamond, 6-8 weeks later, then he can get into games and begin a rehab assignment. That will be another 2-4 weeks. so soonest possible return date to playing in MLB games is beginning of June. Most likely is around All Star Break.
We also know that players that return from surgery on this particular injury are never up to form in their first year back. Especially when its to their throwing arm. Some are never able to throw with the same velocity or accuracy. I hope that is not the case for Kim.
What it means for the Padres is that they will not be bringing Kim back. They cannot afford a SS/3B that they won’t know until mid-2025 at the earliest if he can even throw the ball across the diamond with anything behind it. I wish him the best of luck where ever he is signed…
unless its with the Dodgers.
I could see Kim getting a 1 year $8m+ deal pretty easily – that’d give him a $2m+ raise for the year and re-establish himself on a SS needy team like the Tigers who should be interested.
The Tigers have a SS that was a major factor in them getting to the playoffs once they acquired him.
They need a platoon RH bat and a starter or two.
Trey Sweeney certainly looked like a major leaguer however, I’m not sold on him being the long term solution at SS. I could see him getting around 300 AB next year.
Since Kim will miss at least the 1st 3 months of the season and possibly more, I don’t see any team signing him to a one-year deal. They will want a shot at recouping some of their investment with a 2-year deal and perhaps an option year after that.
I’d keep an eye on his market if I was the Yankees. I’d like to move jazz back to 2B and get a nice defensive 3B that has a bit of offensive value as well. Great complimentary player.
I’d like to see the Red Sox sign him on incentivized contract. Something that is 2 year $14M with a club option @ $8M, $1M buyout. With incentives he could turn that into a 3 year $36M with a club option @ $14M, $4M buyout. I don’t even know if that’s cheap or generous though haha
Kim could be a good fit in MKE.