Atlanta Braves Claim Former Gold Glover off Waivers

The Atlanta Braves are making moves for 2026. Today, they claimed former Gold Glove middle infielder Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Braves have claimed shortstop Ha-Seong Kim from the Rays on waivers, sources tell @TheAthletic. Kim is owed ~$2M rest of the season and has a $16M player option for next season. Braves get to look at him for a month. Ready to come off IL with lower back inflammation.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 1, 2025

Kim is still owed about $2 million for the rest of the year, but also has a $16M player option for next season. He's been on the IL with lower back inflammation, but is ready to play for the final month of the season.

Recovery from right shoulder surgery, followed by the back issues, has held Kim out of all but 24 games this season for the Rays.

He became a star with the San Diego Padres in 2023, winning a Gold Glove Award and finishing 14th in National League MVP Award voting.

In 4+ major league seasons, he has a .702 OPS with 84 stolen bases. But it's his slick fielding, mainly at shortstop but also at second base, that earned him fan favorite status in San Diego, as well as that hefty contract option he has coming to him next year.

The Braves have a chance to plug their huge hole at short with Kim, as they have received a major-league-worst .525 OPS from the shortstop position this year. But Kim's bread and butter is in the field, where he has ranked in the 94th and 96th percentile in Outs Above Average during his two full seasons with the Friars in '22 and '23.