The Athletics will have to keep searching for someone to pair with shortstop Jacob Wilson.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the club formerly located in Oakland offered shortstop Ha-Seong Kim a four-year, $48 million contract. Kim, a former Gold Glove Award winner, opted to test the free agent market again next season by signing a one-year pact with the Atlanta Braves worth $20 million.
"The A’s plan for Kim was to play him almost entirely at second base. He also could have filled in at shortstop if Jacob Wilson missed time with injuries," Rosenthal wrote. "But now that Kim is off the board, the A’s likely will need to address their needs at second and third base through trade."
Injuries limited Kim to 48 games in 2025. He began the season with the Tampa Bay Rays and finished it with the Braves, who selected him off waivers. In 191 plate appearances, he hit.234/.304/.345 with a.649 OPS and five home runs.
Big-name stars are out of their price range
As Rosenthal pointed out, the Athletics will probably turn their attention towards the trade market to round out their infield.
They are not expected to be aggressive bidders for Bo Bichette or players of his caliber.
"The remaining free-agent infielders – from Bo Bichette to Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto – are expected to be out of their price range," Rosenthal added.
Internal options at second and third base include Zack Gelof, Max Muncy, Darell Hernaiz, and Brett Harris.
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