The Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Ha-Seong Kim agreed to a two-year, $29-million contract with an opt-out after the first season, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Kim is expected to miss the beginning of the regular season while continuing to recover from the right shoulder surgery he underwent at the end of the 2024 campaign.
Kim gets $13M for 2025 - highest salary on team - and $16M in ‘26. Can also earn an additional $2M in incentives in ‘25
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 29, 2025
The Rays are expected to start the 2025 season with Taylor Walls at shortstop.
Kim has developed into an excellent all-around infielder over the past three seasons. The 29-year-old has improved at the plate and has a great glove and good speed on the bases. Over the last three campaigns, he's accumulated 3.6, 4.2, and 2.6 fWAR. He has extensive experience at both second and third base.
Kim slashed .233/.330/.370 with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, 16 doubles, and 22 stolen bases across 121 games last season. He was excellent defensively, finishing in the 85th percentile in Baseball Savant's outs above average.
