The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are one of the fiercest rivalries in all of baseball. These two teams squared off in the most dramatic fashion in the 2024 postseason, when the Padres eventually fell victim to the mighty Dodgers.

The Padres could fall victim to the Dodgers again in free agency.

Los Angeles has been linked to the best free agents on the market (Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, Willy Adames), while the Padres have been linked to much smaller players (Jurickson Profar). One of the players Los Angeles continues to be linked to is the Padres’ own free agent, Ha-Seong Kim.

FanSided’s Nick Villano jumped on the same boat, projecting Kim to ditch the Padres for the Dodgers. I spot proposes that Kim sign a four-year, $49 million contract this winter. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?

San Deigo Padres shortstop He-Seong Kim
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 12: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on…


Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

“The reason the Los Angeles Dodgers can pay players like Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani these crazy deals is because they make the right decisions on the fringes,” Villano wrote. “They have a very tough decision to hitchhike themselves, but if they downgrade there but save a ton on the contract, it gives them the flexibility to continue spending elsewhere.”

Kim suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery at the end of the 2024 season. He will likely be ready at some point in the first half of 2025, but nothing is certain yet with his return.

The Dodgers could pounce on an injured Kim just as they pounced on an injured Tommy Edman at the trade deadline. Edman’s move worked perfectly and Kim’s steal from the Padres may be even sweeter.

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