Reports: Padres ink South Korean star Kim

Hours after settling a deal that will bring Blake Snell to San Diego, the Padres agreed to terms with South Korean shortstop Ha-seong Kim on Monday, according to multiple reports.

The 25-year-old slugger is widely regarded as the top available international free agent of the offseason, as well as one of the top free agents in all of baseball for the 2021 season. Kim, who broke into the Korean Baseball Organization at 18 in 2014, belted 30 homers and 24 doubles while stealing 23 bases and producing a .306/.397/.523 line across 138 games for Kiwoom last year. He also notched 75 walks compared to 68 strikeouts.

Ha-seong Kim has indeed agreed with the Padres, according to a source.

What's his fit? The Padres say: Why does there need to be a specific fit? There's value in having lots of very good, very versatile players. The Dodgers proved it; the Padres seem to be following that model.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) December 28, 2020

The Padres lost some Minor League depth in the Snell trade -- which sent No. 23 overall prospect Luis Patiño , fellow right-hander Cole Wilcox and catchers Blake Hunt and Francisco Mejia to Tampa Bay -- but are now loaded with elite talent on the left side of the infield at the Major League level. Kim, who does not figure to require significant time in the Minors, will have to find a place to play on a club that already features Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.

A bit down the San Diego prospect ladder, shortstop CJ Abrams (No. 21 overall, No. 2 in the Padres system) and Tucupita Marcano (No. 8 in the Padres system) amount to serious depth in the middle of the infield.

The Padres dipped into that depth Monday, when the club reportedly sent Reginald Preciado (No. 11 in the Padres system) along with Owen Caissie (No. 13), Ismael Mena (No. 15) and Yeison Santana (No. 16) to the Cubs for ace Yu Darvish.