Tue Oct 07 02:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Braves Hope to Keep Gamble on Ha Seong Kim Pays Off

**Atlanta, GA** – After a late-season gamble on shortstop Ha Seong Kim, the Atlanta Braves are publicly expressing their desire to retain the player for the 2024 season. Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed the team’s interest, citing Kim’s performance and overall fit within the organization.

The Braves claimed Kim off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays in late August, assuming the remaining $1.89 million on his contract despite being well outside of playoff contention. This move was seen as a strategic play to address the team’s ongoing shortstop struggles, hoping Kim could provide an immediate upgrade and potentially be retained beyond this season. Kim holds a $16 million player option for the upcoming year.

“Shortstop, starting rotation, and bullpen are the obvious needs this winter,” noted David O’Brien of The Athletic on X, adding that Anthopoulos affirmed the desire to keep Kim. “They want Kim, liked everything about the shortstop in his four weeks with (the) Braves,” O’Brien continued.

In 24 games with Atlanta, Kim posted a .253 batting average with three home runs and a .93 OPS+. This level of offensive production would be a significant improvement over the performances of Orlando Arcia and Nick Allen, who have manned the shortstop position for the Braves over the past two seasons.

While Kim has previously demonstrated his potential as a five-WAR player, his future with the Braves is uncertain. He holds a $16 million player option for next season. He may choose to test the free agent market, where he could be one of the most sought-after defensive shortstops available. The Braves face the challenge of convincing Kim to remain in Atlanta, potentially through renegotiating his contract, to avoid losing him to free agency.

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