San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller is open to a contract extension for Gold Glove infielder Ha Sung Kim.
Preller shared his thoughts on Kim in an interview during the team’s offseason meetings on Monday (Sept. 9) at a resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“He’s one of the best defenders,” Preller said, “and he can play multiple positions. This season, mainly at second base, he showed a very high level of defense. He’s shown what a quality player he is. On top of that, he brings energy to the team every day and has done a great job on offense.”
Kim had a great season in 2023 on both offense and defense. As a result, he was named a finalist for both the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards. He won the Gold Glove in the utility category.
“It’s great to see him recognized,” Preller said of Kim’s Gold Glove win. Having watched him every day, I think he’s one of the best defenders out there. He’s a defender who can make an impact on the team,” he said in a congratulatory message.
Kim is under contract for four years after the 2024 season. A mutually agreeable option for the 2025 season remains, but it is unlikely to be exercised.
“We let him know at the end of the season how much we valued him and how much San Diego wanted him,” Preller said when asked about the possibility of extending his contract, then added, “There’s a lot more to come over the next couple months on that front. We’ll talk to his agent, we’ll talk to the player, and we’ll see what it looks like.” 무지개토토 도메인
What about utilization next season? Preller said that hiring a head coach is a priority, saying, “When you get a head coach, you have to talk to him.”
“We have a lot of quality infielders,” he said. Ha-seong Kim can play a lot of different positions. Last year, he showed Gold Glove-level defense at shortstop, and this year he showed it at second base. It’s something we’ll have to talk about with the manager and the player.”
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