After the San Diego Padres signed Xander Bogaerts to a massive deal this offseason, there have been rumors about the Padres being open to trading Ha-Seong Kim. However, did the San Diego promotional calendar for 2023 give a clue about San Diego’s plans for the 27-year-old infielder this season?
Does San Diego Padres promotional calendar for 2023 put a dent in the Ha-Seong Kim rumors?
When the Padres released their 2023 promotional calendar late last week, there was an interesting giveaway scheduled for August 22 when the Miami Marlins pay their annual visit to Petco Park. On that night, the first 40,000 fans to come through the turnstiles will receive a Ha-Seong Kim bobblehead (complete with a removable helmet, of course).
If the Padres were truly planning to trade Kim, would he be a part of their promotional schedule, especially after the MLB trade deadline? It seems like a clear indication the Padres plan to promote him as a part of the team, even with Bogaerts on the roster and Fernando Tatis Jr. (who is expected to spend the majority of his playing time in the outfield in 2023) scheduled to return in mid-April from an 80-game PED suspension.
Of course, keeping Kim would seem to be a big benefit for what is already a loaded Padres roster. In his second season with the Padres, Kim slashed .251/.325/.383 with 11 homers and 59 RBI and provided stability for a San Diego team that was rocked by the surprise Tatis wrist injury news after a motorcycle accident in the offseason and his subsequent PED suspension.
And yes, Tatis is a part of the promotional schedule as well, with his bobblehead scheduled for September 5, well after his return to the lineup. It will also be well after we see just how this loaded Padres lineup (which is seemingly expected to feature Kim’s versatility and talent) fares in its quest to knock the Los Angeles Dodgers off the pedestal in the National League West.