The Rays have reinstated infielder Ha-Seong Kim from the 60-day injured list, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Infielder Curtis Mead has been optioned as the corresponding move. The 40-man roster already had a vacancy.
Kim, 29, spent the 2021 to 2024 seasons with the Padres. He didn’t hit much in his first North American season but was a bit above average at the plate in the next three. He slashed a combined .250/.336/.385 from 2022 through 2024, which translated to a wRC+ of 106.
That production made him a very valuable player, when combined with his speed and defense. He also stole 72 bases in 88 tries in that 2022-24 stretch. He played the three positions to the left of first base, with his glovework highly rated at all three spots. Put together, FanGraphs credited him with 10.5 wins above replacement for that span.
He seemed to be trending towards a nice market in the most recent offseason, with some suggesting a nine-figure deal as a possibility, before a shoulder injury intervened. He sustained the injury diving into first base on a pickoff attempt in August of last year. He ultimately underwent surgery in October, which put his 2025 timeline into question. Agent Scott Boras suggested late-April return would be possible. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller floated a more nebulous “May, June, July” timeline.
That uncertainty naturally impacted his market and it seemed likely he would sign either a one-year deal or a two-year deal with an opt-out. Surprisingly, it was the Rays who ultimately took him off the board. In February, they signed him to a two-year, $29MM deal with a $13MM salary this year and $16MM next year, though with Kim having the opportunity to opt out after the first season.
That $29MM guarantee is the largest the Rays have ever given to a free agent position player but they are probably not planning to pay the whole thing. The ideal outcome here is likely that Kim returns and plays well enough to opt out, in search of a long-term deal. At that point, they can make him a qualifying offer and collect draft pick compensation as he departs. That’s contingent on him playing well over the next few months, of course.
In the meantime, he can help the Rays fortify a relatively weak position as they gear up for a playoff push. They Rays are 48-39, putting them in possession of a Wild Card spot and just half a game back of the Blue Jays and Yankees in the super tight American League East division.
They have done that despite getting little production from the shortstop position. As a team, they have a .201/.284/.280 line from that spot, translating to a 63 wRC+. Both José Caballero and Taylor Walls have produced good defense and stolen some bases but without providing much punch from the plate. If Kim can return to his old form, he should provide an upgrade there while bumping those two into bench infield roles.
Photo courtesy of Chadd Cady, Imagn Images
Coming back right into a playoff race, has to be exciting for him (and for the Rays) after he had to miss the Padres playoff run last year. I’m pulling for the Rays to make at least the ALDS if only to see where the league has them play.
Yeah, I am a Sox fan, but having moved to Florida, Rays are my second now. Still Sox over Rays. Sox ain’t going anywhere this year
Rays are right in the thick of it too. This only helps their playoff chances.
It’ll be interesting to see how well he plays. His bat certainly wasn’t going to be winning any awards during his AAA rehab assignment.
Good for Kim getting healed up and back into the big show! Here’s hoping he plays well and gets back on track!
I was looking at that. His exit velo, never really high, was 3 mph lower in his rehab assignment. That is huge. I really like him as a player and hope he gets back to being the guy we loved in SD.
Exit velocity is meaningless. I’ll take any base hit over a hard hit out, anyday!
Thanks for verifying so clearly that you have no clue what you are talking about.
Well, Stymee is done.
What I should have said above it that it is meaningless on its own. Arraez has one of the lowest exit velocities, but is one of the best hitters. It’s the same thing with pitching today. Throwing over 100 mph is a rare trait, and can’t be taught. Many that have that ability, can’t pitch. They only throw. It’s the same with hitting. Being able to hit the ball hard is good, but being able to Hit is better. I will take a Stephen Kwan over an O’Neill Cruz. Exit velocity is not the be all, end all.
Watched him every day as a member of the Padres, and gotta say, I don’t think this is ideal for him, as he tends to go through extreme peaks and valleys. Got a bad feeling that he’s not gonna be ready with the bat yet..
That is as good as getting a trade deadline acquisition. Awesome player.
It’s almost like the Rays had a plan.
The Ray’s always have a plan. That’s why they have had sustained success as an organization. Well run team.
Remembering to when the rays were the team to regress and Boston was going to shock this division lol. Doubting the rays is always fun
“Remembering to when”…The Rays do more with less than any other team. What they should be selling, is their methodology for running a baseball team, not the team itself.
That’s fine. They do a killer job at it
Boston has shocked its fans. Congratulations Craig.
Kim is a platinum level SS defender from what I’ve seen. That being said I was surprised he commanded this level salary(especially while injured)since his hit tool is still quite questionable.
But he also steals a lot of bases so the offense is better than people think. A lot of his WAR as a player in past years, aside from defense, is his ability to steal bases while having a little pop. He may not get a ton of fantasy points but he’s a solid all around player. I was hoping the Red Sox got him
Walls is a platinum glove at SS also. The problem is he can never get his OPS over .600.
Hitting .208 in 20 rehab games, uh oh
Still higher than Walls.
Hitting .208 in 20 rehab games is like hitting .208 in spring training. It doesn’t count.
Congrats Kim! You were always a favorite here in SD and if not for that injury would probably still be here. Best of luck!
Looking forward to see what Kim brings to the team. Would rather see Mead with his utility potential rather than Walls.
No love for Walls churlish attitude and weak bat. Perhaps there is a potential suitor with a used Sno-Cone machine waiting in the wings.
Churlish!
I’m old – I know words.☺
Thought the Rays signed their franchise future SS to an 11 year deal a couple years ago? Oh wait.
d*ck comment. maybe think of the victims before trying to be funny? or maybe you find that kind of thing funny?
Are you serious? Obviously I’m not joking about the victim. Get a life.
Let’s be fair and accurate here. You both need to get lives.
Where to play? Walls and Caballero have done a solid job so far–Walls will never hit, but his defense saves a lot of runs; Cabby is also excellent all over the IF, with speed to burn. This will be interesting.
These guys are all so clueless when it comes to the Rays. Caballero is leading the league in SB, they’re not going to put him on the bench. The writer hasnt got the slightest evidence whether they want to pay the two years for Kim.. .The way guys like Steinberg operate, the plan may be to keep as much talent as possible, hope to get good performance this year and next out of Kim and sell the team for top value..
Kim’s performance will have zero bearing on the Rays’ open market value.
Maybe the best player I ever completely forgot existed in the middle of their career. Sorry Ha-Seong!
Zack Wheeler nods his appreciation.