Giants linked to Padres slugger as free agent fit ahead of offseason

The San Francisco Giants have fallen on hard times and are likely out of postseason contention with just 18 games remaining on their schedule. They are eight games back of the third National League Wild Card.

However, they could be a team that spends some big money in the offseason. They have tried for Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, and Shohei Ohtani in recent years, only to come up short each time.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report listed the Giants as one of the team's he expects to be very active in free agency, and he linked them to a star from the rival San Diego Padres.

"It has been suggested that the Giants might be in on Juan Soto, but we'll believe that when we see it, given their high-profile free agency misses in recent years," Miller wrote. "But they could spend a lot of money on an Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernandez and/or Ha-Seong Kim.

Kim is currently on the injured list and hasn't had his best season to date. The 28-year-old slugger is hitting just .233 with 11 home runs, 47 RBI, 22 stolen bases, and a .700 OPS. The average and OPS are obvious areas he could stand to improve in.

However, Kim has been a steady force in the Padres lineup of the past several years. Last season, he hit .260 with 17 home runs, and 60 RBI.

So, if added by the Giants, he could potentially man the shortstop position or even play a little second base while providing power for a team that needs a boost in their lineup despite the Matt Chapman extension.

Soto will come at a high price tag, but Kim will likely be much more affordable, and he could still be a force in the Giants lineup. He provides power from the right side of the plate and would certainly improve the Giants chances of coming back in 2025 and bouncing back into contention.

San Francisco has yet to reach the postseason since their surprise 107-win campaign in 2021.

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