Rays, former Gold Glove winner agree to 2-year deal

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Jan 29, 2025

Published in Baseball

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays made a bold move Wednesday to improve their lineup, striking a two-year, $29 million deal with Korean infielder Ha-Seong Kim.

The 29-year-old is recovering from right shoulder surgery and is expected to be ready sometime in May.

The deal, contingent on a physical, will pay Kim a team-high $13 million for this season, with an additional $2 million in incentives. Kim will get $16 million in 2026, but also has the right to opt out of the second year and return to free agency.

Kim played four years for Padres, and has a career .242 average and .706 OPS. His best season was 2023 when he hit .260, including 17 homers, with a .749 OPS and won a Gold Glove for utility play. He also finished 14th in the National League MVP voting.

Though Kim also has played second and third base in the majors, he has spent most of his time at shortstop and certainly seems to fit the Rays best there, where he would replace light-hitting, smooth-fielding Taylor Walls.

Kim hurt his shoulder diving back to first base in August and had surgery on his labrum in late September.

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