The Kansas City Royals began the offseason as one of MLB’s busiest teams, quickly signing veteran Michael Wacha to the fourth-largest contract in franchise history and trading starter Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for second baseman Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer.
Since then, however, the team has been relatively quiet, leaving the Winter Meetings without the middle-of-the-order bat they were seeking and making only minor league moves in the past few weeks.
Despite this, there is still work to be done this offseason. Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly recently named the Royals as a potential destination for free-agent shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. While Kansas City isn’t considering moving superstar Bobby Witt Jr. from his position, Kelly suggests that with some positional adjustments, Kim could join Witt as the Royals’ regular second baseman.
Kelly notes that while India is a natural second baseman, he has struggled defensively, accumulating a -31 defensive runs saved at the position throughout his career. India may be better suited as a designated hitter.
Both India and Michael Massey are reportedly open to playing left field, which would create room for Kim at second base. Kim could also be an option at third base if Maikel Garcia doesn’t improve.
If the Royals do add another bat, it might be one with more power. Regardless of the team’s current roster, adding a player like Kim—who excels at drawing walks, stealing bases, and playing multiple infield positions—would enhance the team’s defense and provide an exciting pairing with Witt in the middle of the field.
Kim’s 2023 season saw some regression in his offensive numbers, as he posted a .233/.330/.370 slash line with 11 home runs and 47 RBI. However, he led the Padres with 22 stolen bases, had a strong 12.3% walk rate, and was above average in strikeout and whiff rates.
Defensively, Kim continued his Gold Glove-caliber play, finishing with 4 Outs Above Average and a Fielding Run Value of 3, ranking him in the top 30% of MLB fielders.
The Royals’ outfield was one of their weakest areas in 2024, especially offensively. If India and Massey are willing to transition to the outfield, it could improve the offensive production in that area, and acquiring Kim to play second base would be a logical move, even if it results in a platoon. If the Royals decide to upgrade at third base in 2025, Kim could also fill that role if needed.
Although Kim could help fill the Royals’ middle-of-the-order needs, he may not be the best option available if the team returns to free agency.
Spotrac projects Kim to secure a four-year, $49 million deal, while Bleacher Report initially predicted a $68 million contract in June, though Kim’s recent shoulder surgery has affected his market. With these projections, Kim’s salary could exceed what the Royals are willing to spend, especially given the need for roster adjustments.
While Kim is a solid defender with a bat that could benefit Kansas City, the team is more likely to pursue trades. Even if they opt for free agency, the Royals would likely focus on outfielders, such as Teoscar Hernández, rather than restructuring their roster to accommodate a shortstop at second base.
