A four-year offer from the A’s to Ha-Seong Kim
Ha-Seong Kim is back in Atlanta after signing a $20 million deal to remain the club’s starting shortstop. He opted for a one-year contract, giving him another opportunity to reach free agency next offseason in what he hopes will be a healthy campaign. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported last night that Kim declined multi-year offers.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the A’s offered four years and $48 million. It’s unclear whether that package included opt-out provisions, but it’s reasonable to assume the club wouldn’t have risked a four-year commitment if an opt-out after year one was on the table. The A’s already have Jacob Wilson, a franchise shortstop candidate, in the system and are seeking help at second and/or third base.
Kim chose to bet on himself with a straight one-year deal at a higher annual rate. Other notable moves around the market include Gleyber Torres accepting a qualifying offer, and Jorge Polanco securing about $20 million per year on a two-year contract with the Mets. The A’s aren’t likely to land marquee names like Bo Bichette or Alex Bregman on deals north of $150 million. Rosenthal notes that top infield targets in Asia-Pacific markets, such as Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, are also expected to be out of price range for many clubs. Eugenio Suárez could be a long shot, demanding a salary similar to Kim’s and Polanco over two to three years.
Beyond Kim, the free-agent landscape shows a steep drop after the top tier. Players like Willi Castro, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Yoán Moncada, Luis Rengifo, and KBO hitter Sung-mun Song are seen as one-year deal candidates. Song and Castro appear most likely to secure multi-year arrangements. Song’s case is intriguing given his strong Korea seasons, though scouting reports question his pure hitting ability. Public market interest in Song has been quiet; he would need to sign by Sunday to stay with Kiwoom Heroes for 2026.
The second-base market has drawn more attention. Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan are the headline prizes, but the A’s aren’t ideal fits for either. Marte’s six-year, $102.5 million deal would be the largest in A’s history if he were acquired, while Donovan is affordable for many teams, though the Cardinals are prioritizing controllable starting pitching. The A’s do possess some promising pitching prospects—Luis Morales, Jacob Lopez, and Braden Nett—but the lack of rotation depth remains a major flaw.
The Rays have indicated openness to moving Brandon Lowe, who will earn $11.5 million in the final year of his contract. Tampa Bay’s front office has signaled they’re not interested in a cut-price deal just to shed payroll. Erik Neander said at the Winter Meetings that the Rays would be comfortable entering the season with Lowe and Yandy Díaz in the fold. The Mets are exploring a Jeff McNeil trade, but any deal would likely require them to cover a portion of the remaining $17.75 million on his contract. Pending free agents Nico Hoerner and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have been floated in rumors, but a move seems unlikely.
On a speculative note, Jake Cronenworth could emerge as a fit. The Padres owe him $12 million per season through 2030, a figure that aligns with the average annual value the A’s offered Kim, though Cronenworth is a stronger hitter and a less solid defender. With the Padres looking to free payroll space for rotation needs, trade discussions between the two clubs could make sense.
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