Padres ready to give $6,000,000 plus offer for free agent IF, per sportscaster

Free agent Ha-Seong Kim has been linked to various teams like the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. However, there has been speculation about Kim re-signing with his previous team, the San Diego Padres.

Padres sportscaster Lee Hacksaw Hamilton spoke about how San Diego is interested in adding the utility player Ha-Seong Kim back to their roster. Moreover, he was also quoted saying that the Padres are ready to offer the South Korean player $6 million.

"The Padres evidently are still talking to Ha-Seong Kim about possibly re-signing, though they don't know that he'll be ready to play till June 1st," Hamilton said.

"They're evidently interested in a lower price first year deal. He was supposed to earn eight. They might go to six for the first year with an option for a big pay bump the second year if he has a big bounce back season coming off the labrum surgery," he added.

Kim has solid offensive prowess, but he's better known for his defensive skills on the field. Over his four seasons in the major leagues, he's slashed .242/.326/.380 in a total of 1,976 plate appearances.

The Padres are looking to fill a void in their infield will try to secure a deal with Kim, especially after losing out on Korean player Kim-Hye Seong to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB analyst also believes that Ha-Seong Kim will go back to the San Diego Padres

Jim Bowden of The Athletic has revealed a surprising twist regarding shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, predicting his return to the San Diego Padres. Kim is expected to miss the initial few games of the 2025 season as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

However, he's still expected to secure a lucrative contract, having been 6% above league-average offensively over the past three years.

"The Giants had interest in Kim until they were able to land Willy Adames in free agency," Bowden wrote. "Now, I think he’d fit great with the Red Sox, who could then keep Trevor Story at second base, allowing Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell another year of development at Triple-A," Bowden wrote.

"However, the best team for Kim, without a doubt, is still the Padres. They also are a much better team with him at shortstop and Xander Bogaerts at second base than if they have to play Bogaerts at shortstop."

The anticipation is high as the baseball world waits to see where Kim will land for the 2025 season.