The Atlanta Braves checked off a major offseason priority by bringing back shortstop Ha-Seong Kim on a one-year contract worth $20 million. The team announced the deal Monday night, keeping a key infield piece who joined Atlanta via a late-season waiver claim and quickly earned trust inside the clubhouse and front office.

At 30 years old and fresh off a season shortened by shoulder surgery, Kim gets a strong prove-it pact. The Braves get stability at a critical position without getting locked into a long-term number. It is a bet on upside and health, backed by a front office that very clearly wants this to be the start of something bigger.

Why a one-year deal makes sense for Braves and Kim

Kim’s 2025 season started late after right shoulder surgery in late 2024. He did not debut until July 4. From there, he split time between Tampa Bay and Atlanta after the Braves claimed him off waivers on Sept. 1. His final 2025 line—.234 with five homers and 17 RBIs—was steady considering the long layoff but below his best years.

That context explains the shape of this deal. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said there were talks about a longer contract, but both sides landed on one year. In his words, the club is aiming for “hopefully a longer marriage here.”

For Kim, the $20 million salary represents a bold bet on himself. He declined a $16 million player option tied to his prior two-year, $29 million agreement (which carried $13 million for 2025). The new number is a $4 million raise and suggests confidence that a healthy year can re-open the door to a richer, longer stay in Atlanta.

“Is $20M the bridge to a bigger Braves deal?”

What the Braves are betting on with Ha-Seong Kim

Anthopoulos was clear: Atlanta believes Kim is better than his 2025 slash line. “This contract reflects our belief in him and he’s a much better player,” the GM said. He also noted the hope that Kim climbs back to the production he showed earlier in his MLB career with San Diego.

Across five seasons (2021–2025) with the Padres, Rays, and Braves, Kim has hit .242 with 52 home runs and 217 RBIs. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story of a player who battled through rehab, rejoined midseason, and still found ways to help two clubs. But they do show the track record that has Anthopoulos and the Braves buying into a bounce-back season in 2026.

In simple terms: Atlanta is wagering that a full spring, a normal buildup, and a settled role will unlock a stronger version of Kim than we saw in 2025.

“If Kim looks like his Padres self, the NL East just tilted.”

How the deal fits a busy Braves offseason

Kim’s return is part of a wider Braves reset. The front office moved quickly to add impact pieces around the diamond and in the bullpen:

• Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski agreed to a two-year, $23 million contract, with a 2028 club option that could push the value to $26 million over three seasons.
• Two-time All-Star reliever Robert Suarez joined on a three-year, $45 million deal.

Layer in Kim at $20 million for one year, and you see a clear strategy: keep the floor high and the options open. The Braves have secured proven talent without locking themselves into long-term commitments at multiple spots. That gives them flexibility for in-season moves and future extensions, including a possible longer agreement with Kim if he delivers.

It’s also notable how quickly Atlanta acted after late-summer scouting time with Kim. The club claimed him on Sept. 1 from Tampa Bay, then decided to prioritize his return soon after the season. That speed suggests strong conviction that his second-half sample—and the person behind it—fit the Braves’ plans.

“Short deal, big upside. If it clicks, lock him up by midseason.”

The money and the message

The $20 million price tag is not just a number. It sends a message. Kim declined a $16 million option and still chose Atlanta, where the team responded by meeting his market and then some. That mutual commitment matters.

For the Braves, the deal signals they see Kim as more than a stopgap. For Kim, it’s a chance to prove he is past the shoulder issue and ready to drive winning baseball from opening day through October.

Anthopoulos leaned into that idea with two lines that will echo into spring: “hopefully a longer marriage here,” and “This contract reflects our belief in him.” Those aren’t throwaway words. They set the stage for a clear outcome: if Kim’s performance rises, the Braves will move to keep him.

What comes next

Kim, who hails from South Korea, will enter camp with a full offseason of training instead of rehab. That alone should change his timing and rhythm at the plate. It should also help him settle into a routine with teammates he joined midstream in 2025.

The Braves will watch for steady contact, quality at-bats, and the kind of run production that helped make him a sought-after piece earlier in his career. If he gets there, an extension will feel less like a question and more like a timeline.

Atlanta’s winter plan—add Yastrzemski in the outfield, bring in Suarez to shorten games, and keep Kim—puts the club on firm ground heading into 2026. It’s a balanced bet on present value with room for future growth.

Bottom line

Ha-Seong Kim is back, on a deal that keeps both sides motivated. The Braves get a key infielder without long-term risk. Kim gets a raise and a clean runway to show his best over a full season. If all goes right, this one-year agreement will be remembered as the prelude, not the finale.

And if Anthopoulos gets his wish, the next contract will match the optimism he voiced: a longer marriage, built on a full, healthy year that makes the choice easy for everyone.