The Red Sox need Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim more than they need to target impact starters in a trade.
The Sox need multiple middle infielders to just field a team in 2023 and will still need one in 2024. Kim, the best available middle infielder, is signed through 2024 with a mutual option for 2025.
Kim’s speed and base running abilities aren’t at Trevor Story‘s level, but they are good enough to mitigate what the Sox will lose with Story out.
Though he’s not an impact bat, Fenway Park may help Kim’s offense, at least a little bit.
Did I mention he’s an elite defensive shortstop?
Red Sox Trade Target Ha-Seong Kim Is the Best Infielder Available
The Red Sox’ internal middle infield options are few and leave much to be desired.
Christian Arroyo could be part of the solution at second base, but it seems that’s not preferable. Enrique Hernandez moving to the infield full-time is a popular idea, but this isn’t ideal without adding a legitimate everyday center fielder. The versatile Ceddanne Rafaela will not be an option, at least for a while.
Free agent infielders Elvis Andrus and Jose Iglesias (the popular names) and recent signee Adam Duvall, though better than anyone Boston has in-house, aren’t as good a fit as Kim.
Ha-Seong Kim amassed 8 Outs Above Average (ninth among qualified shortstops) and 10 Defensive Runs Saved (tied fifth among qualified shortstops). Those numbers are better than Andrus (3 OAA/-4 DRS at shortstop) and Iglesias (0 OAA/-4 DRS at short).
The South Korean native has good speed and base stealing/base running ability. He ranked in the 79th percentile in sprint speed in 2022 and has an 86 percent career stolen base rate (18 of 21). Add those numbers to his 45 percent extra-bases taken rate last season, and Kim would be one of the 2023 Red Sox’ best baserunners.
Kim fits the theme of the off season, too. The 27-year-old doesn’t strike out much (76th percentile), doesn’t whiff (84th percentile), doesn’t chase much (73rd percentile), and walks at an above-average clip (57th percentile).
In his first season as a full-time player, the right-handed hitter batted .251/.325/.383/.708 with 11 home runs, 59 RBI and 107 OPS+ in 150 games.
His 16 infield hits put him 34th of 130 qualifying MLB hitters and tied for second-most on the 2022 Sox.
Speed!
And if he played at Fenway Park, he would’ve finished last season with 16 home runs. Probably a few more hits as well.
Kim Gives Red Sox Flexibility to Add Multiple Players
Ha-Seong Kim shouldn’t be a trade target for the Red Sox only for what he would bring. He should be a target because he’d also allow Boston to make multiple (needed) moves.
Were the 2023 Red Sox going to be anything more than a Wild Card contender? That is not likely, which might lead you to believe in not wasting prospect capital on a potentially lost season.
Not so fast.
Fangraphs projects Andrus to get $10 million annually, and Iglesias is projected to get $5 million annually. Kim’s 2023 salary is $7 million, and Duvall just got $7 million.
After signing Duvall, the Red Sox have roughly $11 million to spend before reaching the first luxury tax threshold. Chaim Bloom mentioned they could add more than the minimum two infielders they need. Given this, is Andrus at $10 million and/or Iglesias at $5 million, with Duvall’s $7 million on the books, the best use of $11 million? Maybe, but I’d argue otherwise.
Andrus and Iglesias alone would cost $15 million. Kim and Duvall would leave about $4 million left over to get someone else, which the Sox should do because Duvall is not an everyday center fielder. Add Iglesias at $5 million, and the Red Sox are just over the $233 million first tax threshold, but they would have everything they need to field a representative team.
Or the Sox could trade for a second baseman like Tony Kemp ($3.7 million), who also has corner outfield experience, to platoon with Arroyo or sign free-agent infielder Josh Harrison. The Red Sox would still have what they need to field a respectable team while hovering near but staying under the first CBT.
Ha-Seong Kim makes too much sense for the Red Sox on multiple levels — too much sense.
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