"Let Xander Bogaerts play SS, or maybe Jackson Merrill" – Padres analyst wants Friars to move on from Ha-Seong Kim

The San Diego Padres had a solid 2024 season. They made the postseason despite some key injuries and made the NLDS series against the Los Angeles Dodgers an exciting one.

However, they could not get past the Dodgers, losing the series 3-2 and ending their season. Now, all the attention is on what the club can do over the offseason to improve.

There is no denying their influx of middle infielders, which has long been a talking point around the league. SD insiders Lee Hacksaw Hamilton and John Riley want to see the team move on from one of those middle infielders in particular. Riley said:

"You have to let [Ha-Seong Kim] go. It's sad to say but you already have too many infielders as it is."

Kim is expected to be a free agent this offseason. However, he could still stay with the club if both sides exercise a mutual $8 million option. Riley added:

"I think you just let [Xander] Bogaerts play short or maybe at some point, maybe Jackson Merrill."

Riley believes Bogaerts could be used as next season's shortstop. He was primarily used at second base this season, with Kim taking the bulk of the reps at short.

Jackson Merrill's name also came up in this conversation. He could also be somebody the club throws out there at short.

Ha-Seong Kim's injury could play into the Padres decision

San Diego Padres - Ha-Seong Kim (Photo via IMAGN)

If Ha-Seong Kim were healthy, this may be a different conversation for the Padres. However, he just recently had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will miss the start of the new season. Hamilton said:

"He's not going to be back, torn labrum surgery, until probably June so i don't know if I'd even pick up the $8 million option in his contract."

All in all, there is no guarantee that Kim can return to normal after the surgery. Torn labrums can be a difficult injury to fully recover from, and some do not get back to the elite level they were before.

It will be interesting to see what the friars do with Kim this offseason. However, that is not the only decision the club has to make over the next few months.

They also have Tanner Scott, Jurickson Profar, and Kyle Higashioka all pending free agency. The front office will be kept plenty busy over the winter.