00:00Haseong Kim declines Braves, opts for free agency.
00:04The Braves sought a reliable, two-way shortstop, briefly held an exclusive negotiating window with Haseong Kim, and just saw that advantage vanish.
00:14The Atlanta Braves entered the offseason with a clear directive.
00:17Find a reliable, two-way shortstop who can anchor the infield defensively and offer more than a whisper of production at the plate.
00:25But that window just slammed shut.
00:27Kim, 30, officially became a free agent after opting out of a $16 million option for the 2026 season, reshaping the shortstop market and putting the Braves in competition with deeper-pocketed teams.
00:39Despite shoulder surgery, nagging back discomfort, and a 2024 truncation after a 700 OPS, his work at shortstop and second base boosts his appeal in a thin class.
00:50It's easy to forget that just two seasons ago, Kim was worth 5.4 war, backed by 17 home runs, a .749 OPS, and a gold glove, an exceptional combination of fielding excellence and offensive reliability.
01:05Nick Allen delivered elite defense, but his .535 OPS simply isn't viable for a team with postseason ambitions.
01:13The other names being floated, like Anthony Volpe, represent riskier bets, as Volpe's back-to-back 3-plus B-war seasons suggest upside, but inconsistencies linger.
01:24Bo Bichette may offer a more potent bat, but with a .10 fielding run value in 2025, his defense casts a long shadow.
01:32And that's where Kim's agent, Scott Boris, seizes his leverage, touting a versatile infielder with international experience, a strong defensive pedigree, and enough pop to merit a multi-year deal worth over $20 million annually in a market thin on premium shortstop talent.
01:49The Braves had hoped a brief taste of postseason culture and a winning clubhouse might tip Kim in their favor.
01:56But now that he's officially a free agent, it's a race, and Atlanta is no longer alone at the starting line.
02:03The Yankees are lurking as a key threat in the Kim sweepstakes.
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