Overview
- MLB.com’s Mark Bowman named Ha‑Seong Kim a trade candidate on Monday, saying Kim “doesn’t feel like he has a fit” with Mauricio Dubón and Jorge Mateo playing better at shortstop.
- Kim returned from January finger surgery on May 13 but has struggled at the plate, collecting five hits in 52 at‑bats for roughly a .096 average and no extra‑base hits through early June.
- Bowman and other analysts say Atlanta could include Kim as a supplementary piece — not the centerpiece — by pairing him with a top pitching prospect and agreeing to pay part of his one‑year $20 million deal to facilitate a trade.
- The Braves remain one of baseball’s best teams and are widely expected to be buyers at the August trade deadline, with rotation upgrades seen as the higher priority and shortstop targeted only if a clear upgrade becomes available.
- If Kim’s slump continues and playing time stays limited, the move could affect his free‑agent value and force the Braves to choose between trading him, keeping him as depth, or creating roster space by other means.