The Detroit Tigers have interest in shortstop Ha-Seong Kim in free agency, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The 30-year-old Kim declined his $16 million player option with the Atlanta Braves to return to the open market in the 2025-26 offseason, suggesting he could seek at least two years and $30 million, if not three years, $45 million.
This marks the second straight offseason in which the Tigers have shown interest in Kim.
For 2026, the Tigers have already filled their infield: Spencer Torkelson at first base, Gleyber Torres at second base, Javier Báez at shortstop and Colt Keith at third base. The decision from Torres to return to the Tigers on the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer complicates the pursuit of any external infield additions, but Kim still makes sense.
After all, the biggest question mark is shortstop.
“I mean, we have options,” president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday, Dec. 8, at the Winter Meetings, after Tigers shortstops ranked 24th among the 30 teams in overall value in 2025. “Javy can certainly play short, and (Zach) McKinstry can play short. Both those guys are All-Stars. We do have options.”
The Tigers haven’t committed to Báez as their everyday shortstop – not because he can’t handle the position, but because he could be more valuable as a utility player at shortstop and center field, plus second base, third base and possibly even the corner outfield spots.
Even with a 2025 resurgence, Báez hit just .257 with 12 home runs, 10 walks and 109 strikeouts across 126 games, producing a .680 OPS. His 86 wRC+ meant his offense was 14% below league average. The 33-year-old is owed $24 million in both 2026 and 2027, the final two seasons of his six-year, $140 million contract.
“Moving him around might bring a better version of him,” manager A.J. Hinch said Monday. “I don’t know if that moving around means once a week, twice a week, every now and then, randomly in-game, but we’re going to keep him engaged at a few different positions for a lot of reasons.”
All of this leaves an opening for playing time at shortstop.
In 2025, Kim hit .234 with five home runs, 16 walks and 39 strikeouts in 48 games for the Tampa Bay Rays (24 games) and Braves (24 games), registering a .649 OPS. Of those 48 games, he spent 43 at shortstop and five at second base. He is an above-average defender at shortstop, second base and third base.
It was a disappointing year for Kim.
The five-year MLB veteran signed a two-year, $29 million contract that included an opt-out clause with the Rays in early February during his recovery from shoulder labrum surgery, which led to decreased arm strength that still needs to improve. He didn’t make his season debut until early July, had stints on the injured list for a lower back inflammation in late July and late August, then was claimed off waivers by the Braves in early September.
Entering 2026, Kim is healthy with a track record of success.
From 2021-24 with the San Diego Padres, Kim hit .242 with 47 home runs, 206 walks (10.4% walk rate) and 372 strikeouts (18.8% strikeout rate) across 540 games, with a .706 OPS. His 10.9 fWAR ranked 63rd among 303 qualified position players (and 15th among 124 shortstops) over those four seasons.
Not only does Kim provide above-average defense, but the right-handed hitter also makes smart swing decisions, maintains a high contact rate, draws walks and limits strikeouts – all qualities the Tigers need as they look to upgrade their offense without blocking their young players.
A three-year deal with Kim would help bridge the gap to shortstop prospect Bryce Rainer, an elite defender with superstar upside who has yet to play above Low-A Lakeland.
In the short term, Kim could handle everyday shortstop duties in 2026. When top prospect Kevin McGonigle arrives in the second half of the season, potentially in mid-to-late August, the Tigers wouldn’t need to rush him into the primary shortstop role, especially since he’s a below-average but serviceable defender there. In 2027 and 2028, Kim could shift to second base without Torres in the mix if the Tigers prefer McGonigle at shortstop – or McGonigle could lock down second while Kim stays at short.
By 2029, Rainer should be ready for his MLB debut. He was drafted No. 11 overall in 2024.
The Tigers want the majority of their growth on offense to come from a continued commitment to the players already in their organization, but they’re not ruling out an external addition.
Although Bregman is the superior player, signing Kim for two or three years at shortstop seems like a better short- and long-term fit for the Tigers than committing to Bregman for six years at third base.
Kim is represented by agent Scott Boras.
“I think Kim is a hot song on the shortstop charts, no question,” Boras said Nov. 12 at the general manager meetings. “I think the availability of defensive premium shortstops in this market is very, very slim. So if you’re looking for a premium defensive shortstop, I think it’s HSK.”
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