Dodgers predicted to sign rival Gold Glove Award winner in free agency
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2024. The roster could look very different in 2025 after free agency. The team has a clear need in the middle of their infield.
While predicting landing spots for the top 25 free agents, Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly predicted that the Dodgers would sign San Diego Padres Ha-Seong Kim this winter.
“As much as it would burn for fans in San Diego, the Dodgers love players with positional flexibility and have a need in their middle infield,” wrote Kelly. “Kim would be a perfect fit.”
Kim signing with the Dodgers would add another wrinkle to the Dodgers and Padres rivalry. The two teams had a heated matchup in the postseason. Kim did not play due to an injury. Kim won the utility Gold Glove in 2023 while also hitting 17 home runs and driving in 68 runs. He missed most of last season with an injury, making him a somewhat risky signing.
“Unfortunately for Kim, his OPS dipped from .749 in 2023 to .700 in 2024,” wrote Kelly. “Even more of a concern is that he had season-ending surgery on the labrum in his right shoulder in late-September, which could affect his availability early in the 2025 season.”
The Dodgers started the year off with Mookie Betts playing shortstop. He moved back to right field eventually. However, the team has announced that they plan to play him back in the infield in 2025. Betts manning second with Kim at shortstop would be a great duo for the Dodgers as they look to win back-to-back World Series titles.
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