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

Infielder Ha-Seong Kim has signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on a two-year, $29 million contract with an opt-out after the first year.

Free agent Ha-Seong Kim has agreed to a two-year contract with the Rays valued at $29 million, according to reports.

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.

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.

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.

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

Kim, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery, is reportedly expected to return to the field in May as the Rays' new shortstop.

The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms with free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim on a two-year contract worth $29 million, ESPN reports. The contract includes an opt-out after the first year, which is notable since he's expected to miss the early part of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in late 2024.

The New York Yankees had long been reported to eye Padres free agent shortstop Ha-Seong Kim as a replacement for Gleyber Torres, but Kim went to Tampa Bay.