Braves reveal true cost of Brewers upgrading at shortstop via free agency in 2026

If the Milwaukee Brewers want to build upon their record-breaking 2025 campaign and advance past the National League Championship Series, the team can't wade through another season without upgrading the shortstop position.

After letting Willy Adames walk in free agency, the Crew were always going to take a step back offensively. But the drop-off was more severe than most predicted, as Milwaukee shortstops had just a 76 wRC+ last season, which ranked fifth-worst in all of baseball, a shocking metric for a team that finished with the best record in baseball.

Unfortunately, the Brewers just got some cold water splashed on their shortstop upgrade dreams. Ha-Seong Kim, who was worth 0.3 fWAR in 2025, just earned a one-year, $20 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Ha-Seong Kim's bloated contract may ruin Brewers' chance to upgrade at shortstop this offseason

Kim was a wildly productive utility player for the San Diego Padres earlier this decade, but his comeback attempt from back and calf injuries didn't go particularly well.

He posted a 73 wRC+ and meager defensive metrics in 24 games for the Tampa Bay Rays, who ultimately placed him on waivers. The Braves claimed him, and while he was better in Atlanta (91 wRC+ while cutting his strikeout rate significantly), he was hardly the player who earned MVP votes with the Padres in 2023.

If that's the kind of player who is commanding a $20 million contract in free agency this offseason, then Brewers fans can kiss any chance of upgrading at the shortstop position via free agency goodbye.

The best shortstop left in free agency is Bo Bichette, but he's a liability on defense and will be far too expensive for the Brewers' tastes. Isiah Kiner-Falefa possesses some versatility and postseason experience, but he's never been an above-average hitter by wRC+ in any season of his career.

The Brewers could always move Brice Turang to shortstop and pivot to looking for a second baseman — a position trade targets Brendan Donovan and Ketel Marte call home — but that would require the Brewers to displace the 2024 Platinum Glove winner at the keystone.

As such, it seems as though Joey Ortiz is lined up to get plenty more opportunities in 2026, difficult though that may be on the offense. The 27-year-old's production collapsed this past season under the weight of an uncharacteristically low walk rate (5.3%) and an inability to drive the ball as he did during his rookie campaign.

Ortiz does provide quality speed on the basepaths (25 steals over the past two seasons) and excellent defense in the field (12 Outs Above Average at shortstop this year), which are skills the Brewers value highly. And it was only one year ago that Ortiz managed a 105 wRC+ behind a .159 ISO. The talent is there.

At least, the Brewers better hope it is, because it looks like Joey Ortiz is going to be the starting shortstop once again next year.