Braves $20 million free agent signing could be a sneaky trade candidate

The Atlanta Braves are sitting atop the NL East and have been one of the best teams in all of Major League Baseball during the 2026 season.

But that doesn't mean they don't have some needs to address at the trade deadline, or that they won't consider trading away some players this season. They could use starting pitching and outfield help, but shortstop is one of the bigger needs on this team.

The reason is thanks to the $20 million free-agent signing that Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller tabbed as a trade candidate this season: shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.

Braves' Ha-Seong Kim tabbed as trade candidate

"But with the way that Kim and Ozuna have been (not) hitting this season, those NL Contenders would be thrilled if presented with the opportunity to unload a chunk of those salaries," Miller writes.

Miller named Kim among the players in the "Impending Free Agent Who Used to Be Good Tier" of trade candidates for the 2026 MLB trade deadline.

Kim hasn't shown enough to keep his starting job at shortstop, especially with Mauricio Dubon and Jorge Mateo both hitting better than Kim.

Dubon has a .716 OPS with six homers and 37 RBIs in 65 games and 247 at-bats. Mateo has a .798 OPS with four homers and 11 RBIs in 45 games and 94 at-bats. Kim has a .266 OPS with no homers and three RBIs in 17 games and 56 at-bats.

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Coming off an injury that kept him out for a while to begin the season, Kim has been very cold for the Braves. It's been a rough go for Kim in Atlanta this season, and his struggles make him a sneaky trade candidate.

Not necessarily because the Braves will be able to get anything for him, but rather to clear a roster spot, and maybe shed a little bit of payroll to open the door to a big addition in a separate trade.

With Kim's struggles and both Mateo and Dubon hitting much better than the $20 million veteran is, there's little reason for the Braves not to trade Kim if they could get a trade agreed to this season.

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