Ha-Seong Kim appeared to be the perfect stopgap at shortstop for the Atlanta Braves.

Kim had initially begun the 2025 season with the Rays organization, although he was still working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. Recurring lower back strains and an injury to his left foot sapped his effectiveness at the plate as Kim posted a disappointing .214/.290/.304 batting line in his 93 plate appearances.

He was a different player after the Braves scooped him off of waivers on Sept. 1. Kim posted a .253/.316/.368 batting line in his 98 plate appearances in Atlanta. Although Kim declined his option for $16 million for the 2026 season, the Braves brought him back on a one-year, $20 million contract.

Time for Atlanta Braves to bite the bullet with Ha-Seong Kim

That contract has been a disaster. Kim missed the first six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger after slipping on ice. He has done virtually nothing offensively since his return, with five singles in his 82 plate appearances.

Kim is not the Braves' only option at short. Utility man Mauricio Dubon has been the Braves' primary shortstop, although he has been used more frequently in left. Dubon has a career-best .267/.316/.421 batting line in his 314 plate appearances, hitting eight homers and 17 doubles. Middle infielder Jorge Mateo has also played well in the first half of the season, posting a .262/.301/.421 batting line with four homers and five doubles in his 113 plate appearances.

As the Phillies are charging up the standings to contend for the NL East division lead, the Braves cannot afford to have a black hole in their lineup. It is time to move on from Kim.