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 response to Acee, Kim is focusing on mid-late April or early Could for his return to recreation motion.
If he’s in a position to keep on that trajectory, Kim may very well be out there for almost all of subsequent season. Kim, who turns 29 subsequent week, now represents one of many extra attention-grabbing risk-reward performs within the free agent class. He’s nonetheless a lock to say no his finish of a mutual choice. The Padres might make him a $21.05MM qualifying provide, however that’d be a dangerous choice this early into his restoration from shoulder surgical procedure. QO selections are due inside 5 days of the conclusion of the World Collection. 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 most likely be in line for a contract of four-plus seasons. At his finest, 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 effectively, so he’d make sense for a broad vary of groups.
Golf equipment’ evaluations of Kim’s shoulder will play an essential position in his free agent course of. If groups consider he’ll be totally 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 potential Kim’s market dips to the purpose the place he considers a short-term deal.
Kim not too long ago employed the Boras Company as his illustration. A couple of rehabbing high-profile Boras shoppers have signed two-year contracts that permit them to choose out after the primary season. Michael Conforto signed for $36MM with the Giants after lacking your complete 2022 season to shoulder surgical procedure. Final winter, Rhys Hoskins inked a $34MM take care of the Brewers a season faraway from a Spring Coaching ACL tear.
Neither of these contracts have labored out particularly effectively for the workforce. Conforto handed on his opt-out after a middling first season in San Francisco. Hoskins will most likely 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 basic path he may look to observe.
The Athletic’s Dennis Lin wrote this afternoon that the Padres wish to carry Kim again, although he notes that the infielder might worth himself out of San Diego’s vary. That’d go away the Friars with a query at shortstop. San Diego used Xander Bogaerts on the place down the stretch. Lin signifies the Padres want to maneuver Bogaerts again to second base subsequent season. Jackson Merrill got here up as a shortstop prospect however performed all 1300+ innings in heart subject as a rookie. Merrill had a unbelievable debut marketing campaign, so the Padres might determine to go away him in heart.
