ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are heading into one of their most critical offseasons in recent memory. While the search for a new manager remains ongoing, an even more urgent matter has taken center stage — the future of Ha-Seong Kim.
According to multiple reports, the four-time Gold Glove shortstop is expected to decline his $16 million player option for the 2026 season, setting the stage for a high-stakes free agency battle that could shape Atlanta’s roster for years to come.
Kim, who joined the Braves midseason after being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay, became a stabilizing force both defensively and at the plate. His glove anchored the infield, and his steady presence helped the Braves regain momentum down the stretch.
Despite battling through shoulder and calf injuries earlier in the year, Kim quickly won over teammates and fans alike. Speaking after the season, the Korean infielder admitted his time in Atlanta had been special.
“It was great. I enjoyed it in Tampa Bay, but I think I had more fun and enjoyed playing baseball in Atlanta,” Kim said. “I’m sorry I kept feeling unwell and in pain in Tampa Bay.”
Those words have offered Braves fans a glimmer of hope, but insiders warn that Kim’s appreciation for Atlanta doesn’t necessarily guarantee a reunion.
“Kim’s decision will alter the trajectory of the entire offseason,” wrote HTHB’s Mitchell Barbee. “While his non-committal answer could seem like bad news for fans, his praise of Atlanta could mean that location might factor into his decision to return.”
However, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Kim’s camp is preparing to test the open market, where demand for elite shortstops will be fierce.
“Kim is expected to decline his $16 million option for the 2026 season and become a commodity on what will be a thin free-agent market for shortstops,” Bowman wrote.
That scarcity could drive his price significantly higher — and the Braves, who already have several payroll decisions looming, will face pressure to act fast.
“Because of this thin market, that would incentivize Kim to test free agency,” noted Sports Illustrated’s Harrison Smajovits. “For that same reason, it’s even more important that the Braves find a way to retain his services. If he signs elsewhere, they could be back to square one.”
Losing Kim would leave a major void at shortstop — a position the Braves have struggled to stabilize since parting with Dansby Swanson two years ago.
With the front office already juggling managerial changes and luxury tax concerns, general manager Alex Anthopoulos now faces one more daunting challenge: keeping his Gold Glove infielder in Atlanta.
Unless an extension is reached soon, the Braves will be forced into a must-win bidding war to retain Ha-Seong Kim — or risk watching another cornerstone player walk away.
