Bonuses, escalators, and a four-year deal: Sung-Mun Song's Padres contract details reveal a financially smart signing with exciting potential.
The San Diego Padres have officially announced the signing of infielder Sung-Mun Song on a four-year, $15 million deal, with a player option on the final year.
The signing comes as the Padres have been fairly quiet in free agency, failing to make any significant moves besides resigning right-handed starting pitcher Michael King on a $75 million deal. Though general manager A.J. Perrell is seemingly active again in the trade market, no moves have materialized just yet for San Diego.
Song’s move to the MLB comes after six seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO in South Korea. The 29-year-old hit a career-high 26 home runs with Kiwoom in 2025, bringing home 90 runs in the process. He finished with a slash line of .315/.387/.530 with an OPS of .917 in 2025.
Understandably, the addition of Song’s bat brings excitement to the Padres organization, as he will provide some much-needed infield talent. With first baseman Luis Arraez gone and questions surrounding first and second base, Song’s signing gives Padres fans a sigh of relief.
It’s a relatively cheap deal for Song, who makes his move to the United States approaching 30. His age and the fact that only his last two seasons in the KPO have been great certainly affected Song’s contract, but it works perfectly for a financially struggling Padres organization.
Song’s contract includes a mutual $7 million option in 2030 with a $1 million buyout. In 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 (if he doesn’t opt out), Song will make $2.5 million, $3 million, $3.5 million, and $4 million, respectively. In addition to his base salary, the Padres will also be giving Song a $1 million signing bonus split between this January and next January.
There are incentives included in Song’s deal, including an extra $1 million for winning the National League Rookie of the Year award. If he finishes in the top five for MVP voting, he will also receive a salary escalator. As part of the deal, San Diego will pay a $3 million fee to Kiwoom as the standard 20% posting fee.
The Padres are yet to make their big splash of the offseason, but the signing of Song could prove to be an underrated one. With their need for infield help and financial limitations, taking a flyer on a Korean star could become one of the sneakiest deals of the offseason.