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 concentrating on mid-late April or early Might for his return to recreation motion.
If he’s capable of keep on that trajectory, Kim could possibly be out there for almost all of subsequent season. Kim, who turns 29 subsequent week, now represents one of many extra fascinating risk-reward performs within the free agent class. He’s nonetheless a lock to say no his finish of a mutual possibility. The Padres might make him a $21.05MM qualifying provide, however that’d be a dangerous determination this early into his restoration from shoulder surgical procedure. QO choices 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 nicely, so he’d make sense for a broad vary of groups.
Golf equipment’ evaluations of Kim’s shoulder will play an necessary position in his free agent course of. If groups consider he’ll be totally recovered throughout the first month or two of subsequent season, the harm theoretically shouldn’t have a huge effect on demand. That’s an enormous caveat, so it’s attainable Kim’s market dips to the purpose the place he considers a short-term deal.
Kim lately employed the Boras Company as his illustration. A number of rehabbing high-profile Boras purchasers have signed two-year contracts that permit them to decide 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 nicely 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 totally different participant than Conforto or Hoskins — much more of his worth is tied in his protection — however that’s a normal path he would possibly look to comply with.
The Athletic’s Dennis Lin wrote this afternoon that the Padres wish to convey Kim again, although he notes that the infielder might worth himself out of San Diego’s vary. That’d depart the Friars with a query at shortstop. San Diego used Xander Bogaerts on the place down the stretch. Lin signifies the Padres favor to maneuver Bogaerts again to second base subsequent season. Jackson Merrill got here up as a shortstop prospect however performed all 1300+ innings in middle discipline as a rookie. Merrill had a incredible debut marketing campaign, so the Padres might determine to depart him in middle.