ATLANTA — Veteran shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is returning to the Atlanta Braves, agreeing to a $20 million, one-year contract that addressed a major offseason priority for the team.
Kim gets a $4 million raise. He had declined a $16 million player option from the $29 million, two-year contract he agreed to in February with the Tampa Bay Rays, a deal that paid him $13 million. The Braves announced the new deal with Kim on Monday night.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos said a long-term contract with Kim was discussed before the agreement on a one-year deal. Anthpoulos said he still hoped Kim’s return means “hopefully a longer marriage here.”
The 30-year-old from South Korea batted .234 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 2025 for the American League’s Rays and the National League’s Braves, who claimed him off waivers on Sept. 1. Kim didn’t make his season debut until July 4 because of right shoulder surgery in late 2024.
“This contract reflects our belief in him and he’s a much better player,” Anthopoulos said of Kim’s 2025 statistics.