Ha-Seong Kim underwent labrum surgical procedure on his proper shoulder on Thursday. The Padres by no means offered a timeline for the infielder’s return, however Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune sheds some mild on the restoration. In accordance with Acee, Kim is focusing on mid-late April or early Could for his return to recreation motion.
If he’s capable of keep on that trajectory, Kim could possibly be out there for almost all of subsequent season. Kim, who turns 29 subsequent week, now represents one of many extra fascinating risk-reward performs within the free-agent class. He’s nonetheless a lock to say no his finish of a mutual choice. The Padres may make him a $21.05M qualifying provide, however that’d be a dangerous resolution this early into his restoration from shoulder surgical procedure. QO selections are due inside 5 days of the conclusion of the World Sequence. That’ll solely afford the Padres about three weeks to gauge Kim’s well being earlier than making that decision.
It appears unlikely the Padres would take that gamble. That’d permit Kim to hit free company unencumbered by draft compensation. If wholesome, he’d in all probability be in line for a contract of four-plus seasons. At his greatest, he’s solely behind Willy Adames amongst center infielders within the upcoming class. Adames is the one different impending free agent who profiles as an on a regular basis shortstop. Kim has demonstrated that he can play plus protection at second and third base, as properly, so he’d make sense for a broad vary of groups.
Golf equipment’ evaluations of Kim’s shoulder will play an vital position in his free-agent course of. If groups imagine he’ll be absolutely recovered inside the first month or two of subsequent season, the damage theoretically shouldn’t have a huge effect on demand. That’s an enormous caveat, so it’s attainable Kim’s market dips to the purpose the place he considers a short-term deal.
Kim lately employed the Boras Company as his illustration. A couple of rehabbing high-profile Boras shoppers have signed two-year contracts that permit them to decide out after the primary season. Michael Conforto signed for $36M with the Giants after lacking all the 2022 season to shoulder surgical procedure. Final winter, Rhys Hoskins inked a $34M take care of the Brewers a season faraway from a spring coaching ACL tear.
Neither of these contracts have labored out particularly properly for the crew. Conforto handed on his opt-out after a middling first season in San Francisco. Hoskins will in all probability do the identical with Milwaukee. Kim is a really completely different participant than Conforto or Hoskins — much more of his worth is tied in his protection — however that’s a normal path he would possibly look to observe.
The Athletic’s Dennis Lin wrote that the Padres wish to carry Kim again, however he notes that the infielder may worth himself out of San Diego’s vary. That’d depart the Friars with a query at shortstop. San Diego used Xander Bogaerts on the place down the stretch. Lin signifies the Padres favor to maneuver Bogaerts again to second base subsequent season. Jackson Merrill got here up as a shortstop prospect however performed all 1,300-plus innings in middle discipline as a rookie. Merrill had a improbable debut marketing campaign, so the Padres may resolve to depart him in middle.
