Padres free agent infielder seen as best fit for NL West foe

Hopefully, wherever Ha-Seong Kim lands this offseason, it is not in the NL West. A former fan favorite with the Padres, Kim is likely to land a lucrative contract with a contending ball club. He is still a free agent, but once he is fully healed from shoulder surgery, Kim's versatility will be crucial for the team he signs with.

Padres fans want to see Kim succeed and contribute to a playoff-level organization, but that would ideally happen for us outside of San Diego's division. He is too good and too likable to root for in-division, but this nightmare may just come true. Unfortunately, the latest swing of predictions labels Kim as the best fit for the Giants, a rival team that could benefit from him in more ways than one.

Former Padre Ha-Seong Kim is sadly seen as best fit for San Francisco Giants

Kim can play anywhere in the infield, which is exactly the area of help the Giants need. Tyler Fitzgerald is currently the top second baseman for San Francisco, and although he had a strong rookie campaign in 2024, his September output was not as convincing as previous months. Perhaps, there is still some work to be done in order for him to fully develop as an every day player, so adding Kim would alleviate those growing pains.

However, if Matt Chapman needs a day off his legs at third base, Kim would be able to slide in at the hot corner without issue. The same goes at shortstop for the newly-signed slugger Willy Adames. Kim is pluggable wherever, whenever.

San Francisco could also be an ideal spot for Kim because his former KBO teammate is currently in Giants threads. Jung Hoo Lee played with Kim on the Kiwoom Heroes, and now that he is with the Giants, it would make logical sense for the former Friar to consider playing with his friend.

Yes, Kim would make a strong fit in San Francisco. Sadly for Padres fans, this prediction is not just a prediction. The Giants have shown interest in Kim this winter, so this suboptimal signing could actually happen. The fans in San Diego wish you well, Ha-Seong, but perferably far away from the NL West. The Padres already have to deal with the Dodgers, so adding the headache of playing Kim in-division would only make things worse.