"Dubon as a better option, more options for the coach, and Atlanta as a better team"

[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Jin-sung] Is this the substance of the $20 million contract.

Since Kim Ha-sung (30) signed a one-year, $20 million FA stay contract with the Atlanta Braves, the U.S. media, especially Atlanta media, have generally responded positively. SB Nation's Battery Power emphasized on the 18th (Korea time) that Kim Ha-sung is the perfect player for Atlanta.

If Kim Ha-sung fulfilled a two-year, $31 million contract signed with the Tampa Bay Rays a year ago, next year's salary will be $16 million. However, as Kim Ha-sung declared an opt-out and signed a $20 million contract in the FA market, he benefited from $4 million as a result. Since this year's annual salary is $13 million, next year's annual salary will increase by $7 million.

Battery Power said, "Atlanta needed Kim Ha-sung, and they needed another $4 million to protect him. The money will be fully utilized." In the end, Atlanta convinced Kim Ha-sung that he is a player who can benefit the team by investing an additional 4 million dollars.

He emphasized that Kim Ha-sung is a much better player than Nick Allen, who left the team in a trade. Battery Power said, "Kim Ha-sung is sure to surpass Allen. In modern baseball, shortstop must also hit well and show a decent defense. This is the situation where Kim Ha-sung is playing as an upgraded player than Allen."

In addition, Battery Power did not deserve a trade because Atlanta's shortstop farm was not suitable, and the Kim Ha-sung contract was the best result. "Atlanta has financial capacity to do so if it believes it is worth raising money to keep Kim Ha-sung for two to three more years after 2026," he said. And he predicted that Kim Ha-sung could be a bridge to the growth of Tays Southen, a first-round draft pick in 2025.

Mauricio Duvon, who brought Allen to the Houston Astros, will play as an all-weather multi-man. Battery Power said, "If Duvon is appointed as the main shortstop, Atlanta is likely to experience the same problems as the 2025 season. He would have wasted Duvon's versatility as a utility man option. "This move (Kim Ha-sung's renewal) provides the new manager Walt Weiss with the key to realizing his versatility and provides him with a reliable option (Kim Ha-sung) at shortstop."

In the meantime, Battery Power said, "The recruitment of Kim Ha-sung makes Duvon a better option, provides Weiss with more options and weapons, and makes Atlanta a better team. It's very simple math." Kim Ha-sung is the main player and Duvon is the multi-man.

Finally, Battery Power said, "Kim Ha-sung had a very hard time in 2025, and there is a risk of injury because he will turn 30 in 2026. When Atlanta returns to the postseason, it is certainly a step that can achieve great results. It will be a better club in 2026. Atlanta had to recruit Kim Ha-sung, and I hope it will be an opportunity to keep him longer than that in 2026."