Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos' latest comments show Atlanta should have DFA'd Ha-Seong Kim

The Atlanta Braves have faced a difficult decision for some time now with shortstop Ha-Seong Kim nearing the end of his injury rehab assignment. However, his performance with the Braves and even during his time in Triple-A has not been impressive.

Kim signed a $20 million deal during the offseason, but he entered August with only five hits on the season. Braves insider Mark Bowman previously suggested that bringing Kim back could create frustration inside the clubhouse.

“I think it would be wrong... If Jarvis keeps playing like this he needs to be in there, if they want him to sit against lefties and put Dubon on short that is fine," Bowman said. "Bringing Kim back to this club, I don't think there will be a lot of happy guys in that clubhouse. Jarvis has earned the playing time."

On Monday, that situation became reality when Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos announced that Kim had been reinstated from his rehab assignment and Jorge Mateo had been designated for assignment.

“Alex Anthopoulos says that SS Ha-Seong Kim is back. Jorge Mateo has been DFA’d. Alex says that the plan has always been to bring Kim back after his rehab stint,” 680 The Fan’s Barrett Sallee wrote.

Mateo had become a respected clubhouse presence, and his energy appeared to make him a popular teammate. The move only made sense if Kim was expected to receive significant playing time, but Anthopoulos admitted that would not necessarily be the case.

“Weiss said Dubón’s super utility role will include playing short against some left-handed starters. He’s not sure how he’ll get Kim playing time,” Bowman posted.

The decision is understandable from a financial perspective because of what Atlanta would have owed if it moved on from Kim. However, from a baseball standpoint, the move is much harder to justify. Mateo provided more speed, versatility, and a valuable bench presence, while Dubón already serves as the team's utility option who can fill in at shortstop.

If Kim wants consistent opportunities, he may have to find them as a pinch-runner or in limited situations. Even then, the fit remains questionable. Mateo appeared to be the better bench option for Atlanta. While Kim may have been the more accomplished shortstop when healthy, his current role looks more like a depth piece rather than an everyday contributor.

For the sake of roster balance and clubhouse chemistry, the Braves should have kept Mateo and designated Kim for assignment instead.

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