Kim Ha-seong's New Nest in Tampa Bay: '2 Years, 42 Billion Won'

$13 Million Salary in 2025, Highest on the Team
Opt-Out Clause... Could Become a Free Agent Again After One Year

Kim Ha-seong, who played for the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four years until last year, has found a new home with the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East Division.

ESPN, MLB.com, and other outlets reported on the 30th (Korean time), citing sources, that free agent (FA) Kim Ha-seong signed a two-year contract worth a total of $29 million (approximately 42 billion KRW) with Tampa Bay.

Kim Ha-seong [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

The contract stipulates $13 million in the first year, 2025, and $16 million in 2026. According to ESPN, Kim can earn an additional $2 million if he reaches 325 plate appearances this year. The deal also includes an opt-out clause that allows him to regain FA status before the contract ends. This means Kim could play only this season with Tampa Bay and then enter the FA market again.

Kim Ha-seong’s guaranteed salary of $13 million for this season is the highest on the team. According to ESPN, Tampa Bay has invested the most money in Kim since signing outfielder Greg Vaughn to a four-year, $34 million contract in 1999.

Kim Ha-seong has played for San Diego since the 2021 season. Over four seasons, he posted a .242 batting average, 47 home runs, 200 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.706. While his batting stats were around league average, he demonstrated top-tier defensive skills in MLB by playing shortstop, third base, and second base. In 2023, he became the first Korean big leaguer to win a Gold Glove award for the best defender at his position (utility player).

Kim suffered an unfortunate right shoulder injury while running bases late last season before becoming a free agent. He is expected to return in May this year after completing rehabilitation. No team offered him a long-term contract, but he signed a short-term deal with Tampa Bay under reasonably good conditions.

Tampa Bay was founded in 1998 and struggled near the bottom of the standings before making its first postseason appearance in 2008. Since then, the team has reached the playoffs nine times in 17 seasons through last year.

From 2019 to 2023, Tampa Bay made the postseason five consecutive years and established itself as a strong team in the American League East, although it finished fourth in the division last season.

Korean big leaguers who have played for Tampa Bay include Seo Jae-eung (2006?2007), Ryu Je-guk (2007?2008), and Choi Ji-man (2018?2022).