The hot stove season this winter is expected to be at the the very least interrupted with the expected Dec. 1 MLB lockout looming.
Any trade rumor or free agent connection carries additional weight this offseason.
So when NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury reported on Monday that the Phillies are interested in veteran infielder Ha-Seong Kim, it starts to raise questions about how he could fit into Philadelphia’s plans.
There are question marks surrounding what the 2027 Philadelphia Phillies roster will look like, particularly in the infield.
Trea Turner has not been told to get an outfield glove just yet while Bryce Harper is expected to return to first base and Bryson Stott has shown his ability to play second and third base at a high level.
Aidan Miller seemingly is waiting in the wings with the team not offering Alec Bohm the one-year qualifying offer last week. Luiz Arraez and Edmundo Sosa join Bohm as free agents.
While Kim’s bat wouldn’t make him a headline addition, his defensive versatility and ability to provide insurance at multiple infield positions could make him a valuable fit for the Phillies team facing uncertainty around its future alignment.
Kim has primarily played shortstop during his six-year career, so if Turner were to struggle either during Spring Training or at some point in the regular season, Kim would be a logical choice to slot in as Turner’s replacement.
He has 26 career defensive runs saved at shortstop across 3,278 innings. So he would likely be more than capable of holding his own. He’s also versatile, logging 1,047 ⅔ innings at second base where he has accumulated a respectable 15 DRS and eight OAA during that span.
Kim could be an option at third base as well. He hasn’t played the hot corner regularly since 2023 with San Diego. In 253 ⅓ innings at the position, he committed just one error while recording two DRS and three OAA.
If the Phillies were to sign Kim, it would make more sense to have Kim man second and Stott slide over to third base full-time until Miller joins the big-league team.
Kim signed a one-year, $20 million deal with division rival Atlanta last season, but that number presumably would be lowered this season due to his light bat.
While limited to just 51 games after needing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger before the start of the season, the 31-year-old hit .116 with a .359 OPS. He is a career .231 hitter with a career .679 OPS. His best season came in 2023 with the Padres when he hit .260 with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs and a .351 on-base percentage thanks to 75 walks, all of which were career-highs.
The Phillies lineup already leans heavily on its stars for production, but need more production from a supporting cast. Adding a below-average bat could create length issues throughout the order, something they have dealt with in previous seasons.
Kim may not be the impact bat many fans are hoping for, but his glove, versatility and ability to stabilize multiple positions could make him a nice complementary piece the Phillies need as they navigate an increasingly uncertain infield future.
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