New KBO posting candidate could give Padres a sneaky path to upgrade infield depth

A new free agent target has emerged for the San Diego Padres, as KBO (Korean Baseball Organisation) star Sung-Mun Song has officially been posted and is now able to negotiate with front offices across the league.

The 29-year-old played third base in 2025 while putting up exceptional numbers, slashing .315/.387/.530 with 26 home runs over the course of 144 games with the Kiwoom Heroes.

Sung Mun Song emerges as intriguing option as Padres look for creative ways to improve

While Song played third with the Heroes, he is versatile within the infield and can play in more than one spot. This ability will help the team avoid a conflict of interest, as Manny Machado holds down the hot corner.

Aside from his ability as a hitter, Song presents speed on the bases, so he is a threat when he gets on.

One aspect that Preller should look into is the fact that San Diego may lose half of the right side of their infield with Luis Arráez and Ryan O’Hearn likely departing in free agency. If both were to leave, then the team could move Jake Cronenworth from second to first, and slide Song in at second base.

If the above were the case, it would be Machado and Xander Bogaerts occupying the left side of the infield, followed by Song-Mun Song and Jake Cronenworth on the right side.

With both Arraez and O’Hearn set to earn $15 million plus annually, signing Song to a three-year deal worth around $5 million per year would be incredibly feasible in terms of money. The Padres only have around $40 million now in open payroll, and budget signings that provide value would be a great way for the team to rebound.

Song is posted through Dec. 21, meaning he has between now and that date to sign with an MLB team. If he fails to do so, he will likely play in South Korea for the 2026 season.

It will be interesting to see how heavily Preller pursues the Song.