Ha-Seong Kim is back in Atlanta after signing a $20MM deal to remain the club’s starting shortstop. He took a one-year contract that’ll allow him to get back to free agency after what he hopes to be a healthy season. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported last night that Kim had declined multi-year offers.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic writes that the A’s proposed a four-year, $48MM deal. It’s unclear if that would have included any opt-out opportunities, though it seems safe to assume they wouldn’t have risked a four-year commitment that allowed him to opt out after just one season. The A’s have a franchise shortstop in Jacob Wilson but are looking for second and/or third base help.
Kim bet on himself with a straight one-year deal at a higher rate. Gleyber Torres accepted a qualifying offer, while Jorge Polanco commanded $20MM annually on a two-year contract from the Mets. The A’s certainly aren’t going to sign Bo Bichette or Alex Bregman to contracts north of $150MM. Rosenthal writes that NPB stars Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto are also expected to be out of their price range. Eugenio Suárez might be a long shot, as he command a similar annual salary to Kim and Polanco over two or three years.
There’s a significant drop from there in free agency. Willi Castro, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Yoán Moncada, Luis Rengifo and KBO hitter Sung-mun Song are all one-year deal candidates. Song and Castro are probably the best bets to command a multi-year contract. The former at least comes with some intrigue as an upside play after consecutive strong seasons in Korea, but scouting reports raise questions about his pure hitting ability. The market for Song has been quiet publicly, but he’ll need to sign by Sunday or stay with the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes for the ’26 season.
The second base trade market has gotten more attention. Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan are the prizes, but the A’s aren’t great fits in either case. Marte’s six-year, $102.5MM contract is well below market value but would easily be the largest deal in A’s history. Donovan is affordable for any team, but the Cardinals are prioritizing controllable starting pitching. The A’s have a few talented arms (e.g. Luis Morales, Jacob Lopez, Braden Nett) who might appeal to St. Louis, but a lack of rotation depth is already the roster’s biggest flaw.
The Rays are open to offers on Brandon Lowe, who’ll make $11.5MM in the final year of his contract. Rosenthal writes that Tampa Bay isn’t interested in accepting a lowball offer merely to shed the salary. President of baseball operations Erik Neander said at the Winter Meetings that the Rays would be happy carrying Lowe and Yandy Díaz into the season. The Mets are shopping Jeff McNeil, but they’d probably need to eat a portion of the $17.75MM remaining on his deal. Impending free agents Nico Hoerner and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have come up loosely in trade rumors yet seem unlikely to move.
Speculatively speaking, Jake Cronenworth could be a potential fit. The Padres owe him $12MM annually through 2030. That’s a year longer than the A’s were willing to go on Kim but matches the average annual value they offered over four. A willingness to spend $12MM per season on Kim doesn’t necessarily mean they’d do the same for Cronenworth, who is a superior hitter but not as good a defender. Still, the Padres have looked for ways to clear payroll space to free money for their own rotation needs, so it’d make sense for the teams to explore trade scenarios.
Who would want to go athletics, be stuck playing in triple a stadium for 2 more season, terrible ownership..
They should shop in the minor league free agency and indy leagues since they are a minor league team..
Sure, but a shorter term deal could be optimal for the right person, to inflate stats in said AAA stadium. For example, in 2025 Stat Cast rated it (Sutter Health) as the #2 most offensive stadium behind only Coors.
It’s definitely offensive.
but if everyone knows it is inflated, it will not help their value too much. But getting a chance to play every day has value for some of these lower end guys. Someone like IKF may want to prove he belongs as an every day regular and may take a little less to get said opportunity since it could inflate his value next season.
@James123 — Agreed, but while they may discount them some, there’s going to be some team that can justify some risk for a larger reward to replicate similar success. They’re still facing ML pitching, regardless of dimensions/conditions, etc. It’s not like teams are not paying former LH hitting Yankees with power upticks from the short RF porch (Belli getting a pillow deal this offseason?)
bigmike0424: I will gladly play for the Athletics. Even if it means playing in a AAA stadium for 2 yrs. You would too. That’s who and so would (at least) 95% of those on these message boards. Unfortunately I probably wouldn’t do them any good with my artificial knee, arthritic shoulder & bad back.
At lest the As made an offer…the cherrington pirates didnt
Pirates need to be sold ; same for the A’s
Way too much money for Kim.
4/48 makes more sense than the 1/20…. but no way is he turning down 1/16 to take 4/48.
100%. I see too many people acting like they wouldn’t take these contracts for that kinda money and you know damn well they would. My best guess is Kim wants to play SS and the A’s have that position locked up for the foreseeable future. If he knows he’s healthy and believes in himself then the 1/20 makes a lot more sense than a 4/48, financially in the long term. If he has a return to form next year then he’ll be the top SS on the market which equals massive payday for him.
Nick Madrigal can be signed on a one year deal with a pair of team options for a total of 20M.
Madrigal is the same player as Kim. Are the A’s losing their minds?
Wilson can play 3B when De Vries is ready. Madrigal can win the 2nd base job. Get a pair of options on him though because when he breaks out you’ll want to retain him.
they are nowhere near the same player. Kim when he is locked in and healthy is an above average SS who can play 2b and 3b in a pinch-and has put up 5 WAR twice.. He is now 2 years removed from those 5 war seasons- but was a 2.6 war in 24 in only 470 PA (so would have been north of a 3 WAR player if he had not missed time). Last year was a mess for him healthy wise, but showed enough that no one thinks he is completely cooked.
So 20 for this year (assuming 8m per war) means that he is a cost neutral signing at 2.5 war (his 24 season), a steal if he returns to 22/23 numbers, and only a loss if he is hurt much of the year like last year. I am suprised that 4 year offer was not closer to 60m since that is not a terrible gamble. Worst case you can move him around the INF since i agree long term the As have Wilson at SS for another 4-5 years, De Vries will move to 3b and be ready likely some point next season, Kurtz is locked in at 1b, so the only need is 2b- and even then Gelof could return to some form (and White/Kuroda may also fit at some point).
Madrigal only has 900 professional ABs but look back to his first two seasons with the White Sox, he hit above .300 in his first 300 MLB ABs – then he got hurt and was traded to the Cubs who sat him on the bench. He lost ’25 to an injured shoulder.
Madrigal can also play 3B in a pinch and if he gets everyday run, he has a sharp hit tool, a little power, he is capable of matching Kim at his best.
I like Madrigal back on the West Coast, he finds his A game with the A’s.
I am smoking nothing. I chew tobacco.
Thats good, 3.2 WAR over his career. How about Madrigal on a 1 yr / 2.5M, 5M team option in ’27. 10M team option in ’28. 3/17.5 for Madrigal, I’d bet they pick up the ’28 option.
Um, Luis Severino.
they overpaid to bring him on board. he got 5-10m total more than he would have received elsewhere.
bm
“Who would want to go athletics, be stuck playing in triple a stadium for 2 more season, terrible ownership..”
Money
A guy who wants a shot at a starting job. A ball player who wants to play ball.
Any player for whom the contract offered was the most lucrative
i think a lot of players would take a few million less to play on a contender…. so the As, Pirates, and a few other teams will need to overpay.
Sacramento is a hitters paradise. A hitter like Kim who has below average power could probably run into 20-25 homers there.
As a fan the Stadium is good. Parking is awful but the game views and amenities are good.
Still the Major Leagues. Team is on the rise. $50ML to wait 2 years to play in a new park with a good young roster doesn’t sound that unappealing
Why not swing for Donovan and Arenado to settle 2B and 3B and/or get a 3rd team involved to fill in gaps. It’s what Billy Beane would have done 20 years ago. David Forst is a pale, limp charade of Beane, though.
Arenado is washed my,dude.
He can be their 2025 David Justice!
will they eat enough of that contract; but through 27 is not the worst since Leo de Vries needs this year in the upper minors and then dovetail him in (or maybe move him to 2b instead of 3b like we all expect).
Leo De Vries will be taking over at either short or second before too long, so they don’t really need Donovan. And Arenado is washed, like vtadave said
Donovan can play 3B/OF too though and that versatility plus his decent bat and speed could fit just about every team’s needs.
i think Leo ends up at 3b long term. he has the arm to play SS or 3b. 2b may be a signing or hope that Gelof returns to form.
zm
“Why not swing for Donovan and Arenado”
Donovan is “underpaid”. Arenado is “overpaid”
Per BTV Arenado is -$16 and Donovan is +$32
Just consider that you’re adding Arenado’s contract to Donovan’s and anything you get out of Arenado is a bonus.
Arenado likely nixes the deal, though
I have thought about a deal involving Arenado and Severino but ultimately came to the same conclusion. Arenado would reject a trade to Vegas.
I am not so sure. I think the As with 1-2 more guys is not a cellar team.
Core of Wilson and Kurtz as their stars is good. De Vries coming up makes it even better. Around them Butler, Rooker, Soderstrom, and Langeliers is a good mix. The issue for their starting 9 is CF (Clark is not terrible), 2b (Gelof could rebound) and 3b (muncy is not the answer and is a utility INF who cannot really play SS)
So the starting 9 looks really good if you bring in Arenado and Donovan for 2b and 3b (where clark is your 9 hitter, and not terribel for that purpose).
The rotation needs more work- Severino, Springs, are both likely mid rotation guys. I like Morales long term (but he should not have been up last year). Lopez and medina are fine back of the rotation arms. (i actually like barnett and Hogland better at the end of the rotation). Jump should be ready to compete next season too. There is a dream that Jump and Morales live up to the hype and are the 1/2 guys.
All that to say- if they are not giving up much; i could see Arenado waiving the no trade since the As could be an 85 win team next year with Donovan and Arenado in the mix.
back of napkin math based on WAR (and expecting a reasonable jump for the young guys or injury rebound)- 48 (assumed constant)- Kurtz 5, soderstrom/langeriers/wilson 4 each, butler/rooker 3, springs/severino/clark 2.5 each already puts them at 78.5- so you need 10ish from Arenado/Donovan and the rest of the rotation and bullpen….. I also do not think i am expecting all that much since Kurtz alone could be 2-3 more than the 5 i am pegging him for.
I really like that Cronenworth idea, but the A’s don’t necessarily have what the Pads are looking for. Can’t really afford to trade their top pitching prospects
Based on his age, salary, and production I don’t think it would take their top pitching prospects. I think it would be a mid level guy.
I generally like the idea of Cronenworth for the A’s too. We’ll see if that’s actually a fit
Cronenworth for Severino. Who says no?
Can’t see the Padres moving Cronenworth and his 5/60m deal for Severino and the 2/47m he’s owed.
It’s similar to what the Mets did with Nimmo. I would think there is some appeal for both sides.
you would have to beleive that Severino the 2.5 war he put up last year. i would assume that is 10ish mil in bad money- and the As need innings this year unless the beleive in Barnett and Hoglund.
Nobody is trading a top prospect for Cronenworth and his contract.
Cronenworth would be a good fit. I certainly would take him over Kim for the same money. He can play every infield position well enough and his bat is better than Kim’s. Cronenworth had a 117 wrc+ last year.
The Padres would likely take back a low level minor leaguer or two for him. They may even be able to get the padres to eat some of his money on the back end of his deal. DeVries should be up in the next couple of years. Then the can move Cronenworth off second, to third or use him in a utility role.
The issue is if the Padres would really move him. While he frees up some money they don’t have a replacement that’s nearly equal in the system. Which means they likely would have to go out and find another 2b or risk giving an unproven dude a chance. Padres also only have 3 lefties in the lineup, cronenworth, Merrill and sheets. One could argue they need another lefty bat as is.
The other option is to acquire McNeil and get the Mets to eat some money. Patch up second year to year until DeVries is up. That’s probably the easiest option. Could be more competition for McNeil in a case like this with other 2b needy clubs interested.
The A’s could send Muncy or Gelof back in the deal
Bad contract? I like both players but I’d take Cronenworth at $12M over Kim @$20M.
Yeah Cronenworth at 12m is looking pretty reasonable compared to the 20m/yr Kim and Polanco are getting paid.
I understand the appeal for the A’s. An elite defender to go with all their young offense. I don’t know if Kim would be the right guy to make that commitment too, but I like that they went for it. Surprised they offered 4 years. Shows they are trying to add guys that will be with them in Vegas. And the dollar amount shows the continued trend of increasing payroll along with the severino deal and the butler/rooker extensions.
Now que up all the “bad owner, trade players” comments that aren’t creative, interesting, or useful
John Fisher is a bad owner and he’ll eventually force the front office to trade players due to budget constraints
Too bad you cannot handle “Uncreative, uninteresting and useless” facts.
It’s more that if you try to talk baseball about the A’s, someone always chines in with “they’ll trade their players” or “John fisher is bad” it’s like yeah everyone knows that. It doesn’t add anything. But trolls don’t try to add anything so it makes sense
Severino was ownership’s answer to another, all but certain, union grievance waiting for them when they pocketed another year of revenue sharing dollars without using it to become competitive.
Fisher is just a trust fund leach. He will use the A’s and any other avenue to prove he can wear the biggest of big boy pants. He cut the payroll. Alienated the fans. Dismantled the analytics department. Traded away anyone and everyone arb1 and above so he could have his real estate deal. And actively silenced those protesting his actions. Sorry it’s so boring to hear factual statements.
I actually enjoyed the plot of ‘Major League’…but it just plain sucks when it happens to your team.
Wow. Thanks A’s but I’ll lock in $28m less over here. No offence.
Would love to know the Boras/Kim dynamic in that decision.
He should easily be the best SS on FA market next offseason at 31 y/o and if healthy and productive anywhere near his 5.0-bWAR 2022 or 5.4-bWAR 2023 — he’ll get more than the 48M and most likely be on a more competitive team. Severino signed for the most money with the A’s and looked/sounded miserable all of 2025. Who wants to fall into that Gap?
Agreed. He only needs to get 28 million over 3 years after this contract to match what the A’s would have given him. If he has a typical healthy season around his career averages he could easily double that.
his 24 season gets him 3/36 most likely if he wants it. The fact that Kim has played all over the inf means he is also the top 2b on the market too (and one of the better 3b options). The As targeted him for the utility he provides since the final home for De Vries is still up in the air (is he a 2b, 3b or corner OF)
Yeah. True.
Just the health risk.
“lack of rotation depth is already the roster’s biggest flaw”
I have to humbly disagree with this statement. The A’s don’t lack rotation depth, they lack “experienced” rotation depth. We have a LOT of good arms (Morales, Perkins, Jump, Arnold, Lin, Lopez, Nett, Zhang, Hoglund, Ginn, etc.). Problem is as you can see most of them are either prospects in AA-AAA or on the roster with minimal experience. We haven’t had a pool of arms this deep in years and honestly I would be 100% fine rolling with that group next year because it’s not a playoff year anyways. Those are the best years to give youngsters a chance to get their innings in.
i agree- i love their depth, but they do not have a #1 or a #2. Morales and Jump both have that upside if they pan out…. Springs/Severino are mid rotation guys (if severino cares he goes from a 2.5 war to a 3.5 #3 starter). Ginn, Hogland, Barnett, Lopez, medina, harris, nett, waldichuck, ect all could give you inning eater innings at the back of a rotation (or realistically 2-3 find just enough to have an ERA under 5 and stick in the rotation the rest rot in AAA as org depth). That is very very good depth- i think most teams would dream of having 12-13 guys that could start in the bigs (even if they are #5 types for the most part)
We don’t know if they have a lot of good arms as you say. We hope they do but for all we know only 2 or 3 of those pitchers end up working out
Maybe if it was 4 years and $80 million he takes it but how are you going to offer a deal that has an AAV of only $12 million per season
if they thought that the braves were not moving off the option amount of 1/16-
Yoan Moncada would make a lot of sense for the A’s on a one or two year deal.
Not really. Why does a young up-and-coming team need a Yoan Moncada-type?
Moncada last two years
.240/.338/.441
Jorge Polanco last two years
.241/.312/.429
If he can stay healthy he’s going to help a team out
The A’s need help at 2B and 3B. Max Muncy was awful for the most part but had a couple of decent stretches. Zack Geloff has lost the ability to hit. Scheumann didn’t hit. Urshela managed 0 Home Runs in a minor league park. Urias was the best 3B they had last season and they let him go with about a month left. DeVries will be ready to play one spot by the time they head to Vegas but the A’s have to field a team til then. Moncada, when healthy is miles away better than what the A’s used last season
12 mil per season ?? What is this 2018
When boras is inviolved its usually not favorable to A’s. Kyler Murray disaster, delaying langeliers accepting his 1st year arbitration offer. Maybe thought of luring Kim to west coast again would be a bonus. But he probably wants to play shortstop and bet on his health for one year and larger contract
Weird rejection tbh, that’s a nice chunk and a little stability. It may be too big of a bet on himself especially with injuries he’s accrued over the years.
A lot of players would be happy to sign a 1 year deal with the A’s. If you perform well you will be dealt to a playoff team in July.
Dunno about that decision by Kim. $48 million guaranteed is a lot of cheese. Unless you are a moron, the average person could never spend that much if they tried.
It’s amazing how baseball let’s owners of the As and the pirates get away with being cheap. The real losers are the fans. Who get scammed into going to games and paying outrageous prices for food. And all they give back to the fans are triple A teams ,fireworks and bobblehead dolls.
with the roster they have right now- i think this is an 80-82 win team (if health holds out for their bigger name players). If kim is a 3 win player replaces a 1 win player like Gelof at 2b or muncy at 3b- that alone could be enough to push them over the edge for a wildcard. This is not a bad team with Kurtz/wilson/butler/soderstrom/ langeliers all having the ability to put up 5 WAR seasons (more likely for guys excpet Kurtz and wilson they end up in the 3-4 range) with a solid supporting cast…. they just need playoff starters to compete (and severino could be one if he buys in that this could be a playoff team if he steps up)
Pitching is major hurdle for the em to jump in contention tier. Base on free agent market that haven’t been on any of the starting pitchers and a lot of the solid relievers are off the board now. I thought they would’ve at least gotten one good reliever. Dumpster diving for Leiter seems more of a depth move
Just more “speculatively speaking…”
The Braves outbid the As, simple as that. Nice to see Kim get paid
No way he is worth 20 million