Ha-Seong Kim signed a deal with a team that we least expected. The Tampa Bay Rays. Yes, you read that right. The Rays grabbed the former Korean baseball organization star for 2 years in a $29 million deal. There is also an opt-out option after the first year. Kim was part of the San Diego Padres for four years where he won the Utility Gold Glove award in 2023.

Kim joins a list of players from the Padres that left this year. This includes Tanner Scott, Kyle Higashioka, Jurickson Profar, David Peralta, Donovan Solano, and Martin Perez. But was this the right move for Kim? One insider doesn’t think so. Joseph Kim even went on to add that hiring Scott Boras as the infielder’s agent was a mistake. 

Was hiring Scott Boras really a mistake? 

Insider Joseph Kim wrote on X about the while Ha-Seong Kim situation. He wrote, “#HSK received a 3+1 year offer from #SFG, but at the time, his camp was seeking a deal of 4 years or more. Entrusting Scott Boras was Kim’s biggest mistake. Choosing an agent like Boras, who is on the decline, caused communication issues as well. If anything, a two-year deal—even with less money—would have been the right move to return to #SD.”  This jab at Scott Boras is coming from a place where the agent has failed to secure contracts for his clients like Pete Alonso.

Everyone knows that Boras likes to play the long game, but sometimes it does not work out.  The 29-year-old Korean baseball player changed his agent last year. However, not all blame can be put on Boras. Before Ha-Seong Kim suffered from injuries and then shoulder surgery afterward, he was projected to command a nine-figure deal in free agency. The shortstop will be sidelined till May because of his recovery and will take over at shortstop upon his return to the game. 

Ha-Seong Kim’s journey from South Korea to Major League Baseball  

It all started after signing a four-year, $28 million contract with the San Diego Padres in 2021. Kim quickly proved he wasn’t just another rookie. In his first season, he was a part-time starter, but 2022 was the year he truly began to shine, delivering a 4.9 WAR and showing he could be a key piece for the Padres.

But it was 2023 that really cemented Kim’s status as one of the game’s most dynamic players. He posted career-highs across the board: a .260 average, 17 home runs, 60 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and a .749 OPS. Add in his 16 defensive runs saved and a Gold Glove at the utility position, and Kim’s 5.8 WAR across 152 games was nothing short of spectacular. The cherry on top? He finished 14th in NL MVP voting, a well-deserved recognition for his all-around game.

However, 2024 was a bit of a down year for Kim. Injuries sidelined him for 41 games, limiting him to just 121 appearances. While he still swiped 22 bags and showed flashes of his talent, his overall numbers dipped: a .233 average, 11 homers, 47 RBI, and a .700 OPS. On the defensive side, Kim played exclusively at shortstop after previously bouncing between short, second, and third in prior seasons. Even though the numbers weren’t as dazzling, you could still see the potential—he’s a player with all the tools, just waiting to get back to that 2023 form.