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.

The Tampa Bay Rays secured their new starting shortstop on Wednesday. According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Rays and Ha-seong Kim are in agreement on a two-year, $29 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season.

The Seattle Mariners could be the perfect landing spot for San Diego Padres star infielder Ha-Seong Kim this winter.

With a deal on Wednesday, the Rays have their shortstop for the upcoming season...and maybe for the foreseeable future.

Tampa Bay Rays have signed former San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim to a two-year, $29 million deal. Kim, known for his defensive prowess, misse

The Padres already have a shortstop under contract in Xander Bogaerts. Kim, who’ll turn 30, is a better defender than Bogaerts, who’ll be 33 in October. Bogaerts has a much better career track record as a hitter, though it’s notable that his slugging rate has declined each of the past five years.

Ha-Seong Kim may be recovering from shoulder surgery, but the former San Diego Padres infielder still scored a $29 million contract from the Tampa Bay Rays.

A person familiar with negotiations says the Tampa Bay Rays and free agent Ha-Seong Kim have agreed to a two-year contract valued at $29 million.

Kim Ha-Seong celebrates a three run home run during the first inning with his team the San Diego Padres at American Family Field on April 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [AFP/YONHAP] Gold Glove-winning free agent infielder Kim Ha-seong is joining the Tampa Bay Rays on a multiyear contract.

What Jurickson Profar hinted at and Roki Sasaki insinuated are proving to be more concrete reasons as to why free agents aren't signing with the San Diego Padres. The rumors of what was potentially driving away Padres free agency targets is once again brought to light after losing Ha-Seong Kim to the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday morning.

A lot of the conversation about a potential New York Mets trade with the San Diego Padres has turned its eye on what it would cost to land Michael King. Fair en