Braves' $20 million infield signing deemed 'massive whiff' at All-Star break

4 hours ago 1

The Atlanta Braves are still one of the top contenders in the National League.

But other clubs around them have closed the gap.

Atlanta's NL East lead for first place is down to two games over the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Miami Marlins are just four games behind.

The lackluster play from a few high-paid players is one of the main reasons for the Braves' uneven finish to the first half of the season.

At the All-Star break, the Braves could be re-evaluating their decision to re-sign a former Gold Glove shortstop.

"It's safe to chalk the [Ha-Seong] Kim trade and subsequent re-signing as a massive whiff for the Braves front office," FanSided's Christopher 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, who re-signed for one year and $20 million, has played in just 27 games this season.

Even when he's healthy, Kim has hurt the Braves more than he's helped them. He has just five hits and no extra-base hits in 82 trips to the plate. Kim's -30 OPS+ is painful to even look at.

MORE: Barry Bonds' nephew has a chance to be key pick in 2026 MLB Draft

Is it time for the Braves to DFA the 30-year-old?

"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."

Watch for the Braves to be aggressive in their pursuit of a shortstop at the deadline. It won't be hard to find someone with better offensive numbers than Kim's.