Should the Padres Consider This Ha-Seong Kim Trade Proposal?
The San Diego Padres are getting set for their early spring training start due to the pending regular season opener in Seoul, South Korea against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 20. They still have just two outfielders on their 40-man roster.
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jose Azocar make up the only outfielders currently on the 40-man as spring training gets underway.
The Padres desperately need to add some outfield depth before March rolls around, but the team appears hesitant to sign free agents as they try to shed salary this offseason.
They could always look to acquire an outfielder via the trade market, though, and Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report has an interesting idea.
Trade Proposal: Tampa Bay Rays get SS Ha-Seong Kim; San Diego Padres get DH/1B/OF Harold Ramírez, 1B Xavier Isaac (No. 5 Tampa Bay prospect)
Rymer has the Padres sending fan favorite and rising star Ha-Seong Kim to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter Harold Ramirez and the Rays' No. 5 prospect, first baseman Xavier Isaac.
Ramirez has consistently improved since making his debut in 2019, but has especially found his stride since joining Tampa in 2022.
Last year, the 29-year-old enjoyed the best season of his career, slashing .313/.353/.460 with 12 home runs, 68 RBIs, 19 doubles and just 79 strikeouts in 122 games.
Ramirez can play all three outfield spots and first base, although he's spent a majority of his time at each of the corner outfield spots. With Tatis likely locked into right field, Ramirez would be a perfect candidate to play left field, while also spending some time in the infield at first base.
As for Isaac, he was a first-round draft pick in 2022 and had a great 2023 season across low-A and high-A. He slashed .285/.395/.521 with 19 home runs and 72 RBIs in 90 games across the two levels last season. He's still just 20 years old.
It wouldn't be easy for Padres fans to see Kim moved, especially as he's coming off the best season of his career that saw him finish 14th in National League MVP voting.
He's also due for a contract extension. With Tatis, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts locked into massive deals for the next decade, it might be difficult to keep Kim in San Diego for the rest of his career and stay within budget.
