Ha-Seong Kim made some degree of sense for the New York Yankees last offseason, while he was still rehabbing an injury with an uncertain 2025 arrival date. Now that he's healthy and finished the season strong? The Yankees' depth chart is practically begging to add him.
On Monday, Kim declined his 2026 option, penalizing the Atlanta Braves for making a move that was almost too smart. The Tampa Bay Rays didn't want to resist a rehabbing Kim opting into their payroll for next season with his health still uncertain, so they dealt him to Atlanta at the trade deadline after just 24 games.