For San Diego Padres fans, this one stings. After four years in San Diego, Ha-Seong Kim is officially moving out. He signed a two-year, $29 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s got a player option for 2026, but for now, it seems like his time in San Diego has all but come to an end. Now, Kim wasn’t just another infielder; he was a favorite and had a spark like no one else. In 2024, he played 121 games with .233/.330/.370, smashing 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases.

However, a shoulder injury broke the momentum and kept him out of the postseason. Eventually, the Padres fell to Los Angeles in the NLDS. And if you thought the San Diego Padres fans were struggling to process his departure, Kim himself is emotional. As his move to Tampa was confirmed and made official, he took to share his heartfelt message with the city and the team that had been his home for so long.

“During the four years I spent in San Diego, I made unforgettable and precious memories that will last with me forever. Ever since I first came over to the big leagues, it was truly an honor for me to play every game in front of the passionate fans of San Diego,” said Kim. And this one stings: “All my fellow players, coaching staff, support staff, front office, and the #padresnation were like family to me. I will cherish the time and memories I had in San Diego in my heart. Thank you sincerely.” For the San Diego fans, this has been a rough season, and this only adds to the pain.

The San Diego front office has been eerily quiet in the free agency. A large part of the reason is also because of their current ownership struggles. They even most likely lost the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes. But forget getting players; they are having a hard time holding their current players too. Like Kim, even Jurickson Profar has left and signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.

With two major departures and no big add-ons in sight, the million-dollar question is—what’s next? The San Diego Padres seem stuck in limbo. But in the meantime, they do not head out for answers, instead finding it right in their backyard.

San Diego Padres find their shortstop right in their backyard

Well, the above statement is true. They did find the answers right at home. So when Ha-Seong Kim went off to Tampa, the Padres needed to shuffle their infield. Manager Mike Shildt confirmed at FanFest on Saturday that Xander Bogaerts will be moving back into his natural position at shortstop. They sure didn’t look far for a solution! “Once it seemed like Kimmy wasn’t coming back… the way the team was shaping up, it looked like an opportunity for Bogey to play shortstop,” said Shidt.

Shildt mentioned, “So I had a great chat with Bogey probably a month ago. He had already thought about it and was training to come back and play shortstop. He was really pumped about it.” Now this move was expected after Kim left, but still, it’s a significant shift. Xander Bogaerts is a two-time World Series champion. And well, he played shortstop for 11 seasons before moving to second base last season to make place for Kim’s glove. There were adjustment issues, but finally, Bogaerts held his own even at second. And finished with 6 outs above average.

However, now he is returning to his comfort zone, and while the ownership battles are on, the team’s infield is starting to take shape. Shildt also mentioned that Jake Cronenworth will be the starting second baseman, replacing Bogaerts there. Sure, the San Diego Padres may not have made some fancy moves, but with Kim gone, at least they have the major question mark answered.