Where does Kim fit in Padres' crowded middle-infield picture?

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

In the buildup to Spring Training, MLB.com is breaking down the Padres’ roster, position by position. Today's newsletter focuses on second base.

Previously: Catcher | First base

Around the horn: Second base
The Padres have a productive fan favorite returning at second base in 2024. He loves playing in San Diego. San Diego loves him back. Simple enough, right?

Not quite. Despite Ha-Seong Kim's stature as one of the most important and beloved Padres, questions abound about his status in 2024 and beyond.

A defensive wiz with a unique offensive skill set, Kim is eligible to become a free agent after the upcoming season. In a 2023 infield that boasted three other multi-time All-Stars, Kim was the most productive player. He posted 5.8 bWAR, hitting .260/.351/.398 while playing outstanding defense at three positions -- enough to earn him the utility Gold Glove Award.

So, what's next for Kim and the Padres? There are obvious questions about his long-term future and his current positional fit. But first, a look at where things currently stand for San Diego at second base:

On the 40-man roster: Kim, Jake Cronenworth, Matthew Batten, Tucupita Marcano, Eguy Rosario

Departures: Rougned Odor (released midseason, 2023)

Top 30 prospects: Graham Pauley (No. 12), Rosario (No. 16), Rosman Verdugo (No. 21), Marcos Castañon (No. 25), Nerwilian Cedeño (No. 30)

Could the Padres extend Kim?
Kim and the Padres have a mutual option for $10 million in 2025, which -- considering Kim's level of production over the past two seasons -- he seems certain to decline. As such, Kim would hit the market next winter, having just turned 29, as one of the sport's most productive middle infielders.

Basically, he won't come cheap. That said, Kim is a fan favorite and ranks among the most beloved members of the Padres' clubhouse. He's in his prime and brings value at multiple positions. San Diego has clearly been reluctant to match its spending from previous offseasons. But as future commitments go, Kim could be a sound investment at a cost that shouldn't be too outlandish.

So while it seems unlikely Kim would sign an extension before reaching free agency, it shouldn't be entirely ruled out.

Could the Padres trade Kim?
In the moment, this feels like the more pressing question. Kim is due $8 million in 2024. That's a bargain -- and 29 other teams would get an upgrade by adding Kim, simply because of his versatility and his outstanding glove at three premium positions.

As we discussed last week, the Padres already have a glut of middle-infield options, and they're losing value with Cronenworth by playing him at first. A Kim trade could help San Diego address the serious holes elsewhere on its roster. And the downgrade at second wouldn't be too stark, in theory.

But it's not that simple. The consequences of trading Kim could be costly. In an infield that dealt with all manner of injuries last season, Kim was a constant, moving around the diamond and filling in expertly at short and third.

Simply put, Kim is a very good player, beloved by the fan base, and there are huge downsides to trading him (not to mention doing so before MLB's season-opening Korea Series in which Kim is slated to star). Barring a significant haul in return, a trade seems unlikely.

Where will Kim play?
The Padres still haven't offered much clarity on their positional alignment for 2024. When Xander Bogaerts arrived last offseason, he was named shortstop in '23. Notably, the team didn’t divulge its planning beyond that.

Kim is a better defensive shortstop than Bogaerts, though Bogaerts has been solid and hasn’t shown signs of a decline. We'll cover Bogaerts a bit more extensively when we discuss the shortstop position later this week. But for now, he’s clearly still a viable option there.

So where does that leave Kim? Really, wherever he's needed. In the early part of the season, that might be third base. Manny Machado is recovering from elbow surgery, and it remains to be seen if he'd open the year in a DH role. If so, Kim could slide to third, with Cronenworth moving to second. But in a fully healthy Padres infield, Kim will play second.

What's the future at second base?
Cronenworth is under contract for seven more seasons and is excellent defensively. Bogaerts won't play shortstop forever and is a candidate to move to second. No. 2 prospect Jackson Merrill got some reps there at Double-A San Antonio last year. The Padres have no shortage of options.

All of which makes a Kim extension seem less likely. (Then again, Kim is more than capable of handling short, too -- which will become vacant if and when Bogaerts moves off the position.)

The verdict
There’s no harm in listening to trade offers. The Padres’ infield is crowded, and their roster is flawed elsewhere. Kim is a valuable piece who should command significant interest.

But given Kim's immense value to the current roster, the bar should be set very, very high. In any trade talks, the Padres should be asking for impact players with multiple years of control. Presuming San Diego sets such a high price, it's likelier than not that Kim is the regular second baseman in 2024. Beyond that? Stay tuned.