The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are entrenched in one of baseball’s most intense rivalries. This animosity was on full display during the dramatic 2024 postseason, where the powerhouse Dodgers ultimately triumphed over the Padres.
Now, the Dodgers may deliver another blow to the Padres in free agency. While Los Angeles has been linked to top-tier free agents like Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, and Willy Adames, San Diego’s connections have been to more modest options, such as Jurickson Profar. Notably, one player the Dodgers have shown interest in is Ha-Seong Kim, the Padres’ free-agent shortstop.
Nick Villano of FanSided predicted that Kim might leave San Diego to join their rival in Los Angeles. Spotrac projects Kim could land a four-year, $49 million deal this offseason. As the saying goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them.”
Villano highlighted the Dodgers’ strategy of smart financial decisions, writing, “The reason the Los Angeles Dodgers can pay players like Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani these insane deals is because they make the right decisions around the edges. They have a tough decision at shortstop, but opting for a downgrade there while saving significantly on the contract gives them the flexibility to spend elsewhere.”
Kim, who underwent shoulder surgery after the 2024 season, is expected to return sometime in the first half of 2025, though the exact timeline is uncertain. The Dodgers have a track record of taking calculated risks on injured players, as seen with their successful trade for Tommy Edman at the deadline. Snatching Kim from their rivals could be another move that pays dividends—and adds to the rivalry’s intensity.
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