The Atlanta Braves remain one of the National League’s premier teams, but their once-comfortable grip on the NL East has become much less secure heading into the All-Star break.
Atlanta’s division lead has been trimmed to just two games over the Philadelphia Phillies, while the surging Miami Marlins have climbed within four games of first place. With the competition tightening, the Braves are expected to take a hard look at several areas of concern before the trade deadline.
One of the biggest disappointments of the first half has been the performance of a few highly paid veterans, and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim has emerged as one of the most scrutinized players on the roster.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes Atlanta’s decision to trade for and later re-sign Kim has turned into one of the front office’s biggest mistakes.
“It’s safe to chalk the [Ha-Seong] Kim trade and subsequent re-signing as a massive whiff for the Braves front office,” Kline wrote Sunday. “The process behind the move was understandable, even celebrated in the moment. But Kim has not held up his end of the bargain.”
Kim returned to Atlanta on a one-year, $20 million contract, but injuries have limited him to only 27 games this season. Even when he has been available, his production has fallen well below expectations.
The veteran infielder has collected just five hits in 82 plate appearances and has yet to record an extra-base hit. His staggering minus-30 OPS+ has made him one of the least productive hitters in baseball, raising serious questions about his future with the organization.
With those struggles continuing, speculation has grown over whether the Braves should consider designating the 30-year-old for assignment.
Kline also suggested Atlanta has already begun looking beyond Kim as it searches for answers at shortstop.
“Shortstop is once again a focus for Atlanta ahead of the deadline. Jim Jarvis, Atlanta’s 25-year-old rookie, has stepped in and done a credible job in recent weeks, but the Braves need a more reliable solution,” Kline added. “No matter how the proverbial cookie crumbles, it’s clear that Kim was a misstep.”
As the trade deadline approaches, Atlanta is widely expected to explore the shortstop market aggressively. Given Kim’s offensive struggles, the Braves should have little difficulty finding an upgrade capable of providing more consistent production at the plate.