The San Francisco Giants were strongly linked to free-agent shortstop before they signed Willy Adames to the largest contract in franchise history. However, Kim remains available, leaving the door open for the Giants to potentially pursue him.
The buzz around Him and the Giants stemmed from his friendship with Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee and his previous experience playing under Giants manager Bob Melvin when Melvin was with the San Diego Padres.
Aside from these personal connections, His skillset makes him an appealing fit for the Giants. He’s a reliable defender up the middle and showcased impressive speed in 2024, swiping 22 bases.
The SF Giants were heavily connected to free agent shortstop Ha-Seong Kim prior to signing Willy Adames to the largest contract in franchise history. Kim is still available though, so the Giants could conceivably make a play for him.
There was so much speculation surrounding Kim and the Giants because of his friendship with Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee and the fact that he played for Giants manager Bob Melvin when Melvin was the manager of the San Diego Padres.
Beyond personal connections, Kim also has a skillset that would be welcome on the Giants. He is a very solid defender up the middle and he also has impressive speed, stealing 22 bases in the 2024 season.
SF Giants can still make a play for Ha-Seong Kim
The biggest question surrounding Kim is his recovery from the shoulder injury he suffered in 2024, which required surgery. Shoulder injuries can be unpredictable, so there’s uncertainty about how he will perform as he works his way back, especially since the injury is expected to sideline him for most of the first half of the 2025 season.
However, this might not be as straightforward as it seems since the Giants already have their supposed shortstop of the future in Willy Adames—right? Well, maybe not.
Kim remains unsigned, leaving the door open for the Giants to pursue him. While he wouldn’t take over shortstop with Adames already in place, he could slot in at second base, a position he has previous experience playing, once he’s healthy. In the meantime, Tyler Fitzgerald could cover second base while Kim rehabs.
The potential downside lies in Fitzgerald’s performance. If he excels in the first half of the season and proves that his 2024 campaign was no fluke, Kim’s return could create an awkward logjam, assuming the rest of the infield remains healthy.
On the other hand, having Kim as a backup plan at second base might be a smart move. If Fitzgerald struggles as the everyday second baseman, Kim’s return could provide a crucial midseason boost for the team.
A one-year contract could make sense, giving Kim the opportunity to prove he’s still the same player post-injury before testing free agency again next offseason.
It’s not a perfect fit, but given the unique circumstances of Kim’s free agency and his injury, this move could be mutually beneficial for both Kim and the Giants.
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