Willy Adames has long been mentioned in trade rumors, with the Dodgers one club known to have had past interest in the star shortstop. It is fair to guess that any number of teams at least checked in with the Brewers about Adames’ availability, and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman (via X) writes that the Braves and Giants also had Adames as a “target” in the past. As Adames is now set to become a free agent this winter, any of these teams could well be suitors again on the open market, though naturally a free agent pursuit and a trade pursuit can be very different endeavors.
Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia had a dismal year at the plate after posting solid numbers in 2022-23. Arcia is still under contract for 2025 but only for $2MM (and a $1MM buyout of a $2MM club option for 2026), so the Braves could sign Adames and still keep Arcia around as veteran infield depth. With Adames likely to command a contract in the $150MM range, signing the shortstop would represent something of a departure for Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, whose free agent signings have been fairly limited during his seven seasons running Atlanta’s front office. Still, a more aggressive foray into free agency might be seen as necessary after three straight playoff disappointments, and Anthopoulos certainly hasn’t been shy about spending in general, as evidenced by the Braves’ heavy slate of contract extensions.
Tyler Fitzgerald hit well in his rookie season but was a subpar defender as the Giants’ primary shortstop in 2024. That said, Fitzgerald has played at six different positions during his two years in the big leagues, so it is easy to see San Francisco shift him to another spot on the diamond to accommodate Adames. The Giants have long been eager to bring top-tier free agents to the roster, and with Matt Chapman already signed to a new contract, adding Adames would give the team arguably the league’s best left side of the infield. Landing Adames (or another big name) would be an easy way for Buster Posey to make a splash in his first offseason as the Giants’ new president of baseball ops.
More from around the National League….
- The Reds’ hiring of Terry Francona came together quickly, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that president of baseball operations Nick Krall first touched base with Francona via a phone conversation on September 26. Krall had gotten permission from the Guardians to speak with Francona (who was still with the team in a special assistant role), as Francona was atop the Reds’ list of nearly 100 possible managerial candidates but “with an asterisk,” depending on the longtime skipper’s health and whether he wanted to return after a year away from the sport. Krall and GM Brad Meador met with Francona in Tucson on October 2, and were impressed enough to call owner Bob Castellini to fly to Tucson the next day to finalize the contract. In other details on the managerial search, interim manager Freddie Benavides had put himself on the Reds’ short list with an excellent set of interviews, and Rangers associate manager Will Venable was also on the list of top targets. It appears as though Benavides might’ve been the only other candidate to actually interview, as Francona’s emergence precluded the Reds’ need to speak with Venable, or other rumored candidates as David Ross or Skip Schumaker.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto was rocked for five runs over three innings in Game 1 of the NLDS last night, though the Dodgers came back for a 7-5 win over the Padres. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) that the Dodgers were exploring the possibility that Yamamoto was tipping his pitches when runners were on base, and Ardaya notes that Yamamoto had a similar pitch-tipping issue during Spring Training. Or, the problem might just be that the Padres have Yamamoto’s number, as they tagged him for eight runs over six innings in two starts during the regular season. Either scenario is naturally a concern for L.A. in the rest of the series, and Roberts only said Yamamoto was “in play” to pitch during a potential Game 5, if not necessarily as a starter.
mlb fan
Anytime a big name pitcher gets lit up it’s always because he was “tipping his pitches”. The Dodgers’ Dave Roberts is the latest one selling this.
steven st croix
See game 7 in 2017. Doc has been saying this stuff since then.
Non Roster Invitee
Welcome to San Francisco, Willy!
DonOsbourne
I’m betting Castellini flew coach to Tuscon.
runningwithnailclippers
They acutally own a fleet of planes based in 3 different airports across the country. Many planes, including personal ones. He didn’t fly nothing coach. Which is surprising, I know.
27champyankees
The San Francisco Giants haha….Franchise needed a new president of baseball operations and instead of interviewing potential candidates and hiring a qualified executive, they stage a public relations move and hire Buster Posey?
If the Mets or the Rays or the Cardinals were looking for a New President of baseball operations would they hire Buster Posey?
They wouldn’t even interview him. Neither would twenty nine other MLB teams
claude raymond
Let’s see, the Mets, cardinals, rays and 29 other teams. So there are 32 teams plus the Giants? That’s champy brilliant.
mlb fan
“Stage a public relations move…They wouldn’t even interview him”…I get why you’d say this because on it’s face and on the surface it could be perceived as mostly public relations.
But, it’s not like they’re bringing in some rube, son of one of the owners. They’re bringing in a guy who’s been working with them for almost 20 years in one capacity or another.
There is precedent for successful players becoming successful team executives(Mike Flanagan, Dick Tidrow, Jerry Dipoto, Bill Stoneman etc…)
Being a team and city icon could play to his advantage, if he plays his cards right. I wouldn’t go writing him off right off the bat because he may surprise you.
Buster Posey isn’t the first and won’t be the last guy/gal to initially get a job primarily due to their popularity. Within a few years they’ll have to produce results or just get fired like anybody else.
PadreJoe
SF ownership bringing in a guy with ZERO experience running a team to compete in the NL West against AJ Preller, Andrew Friedman,Mike Hazen is just insanity. Those Execs will carve him up!
The Giants are irrelevant in the NL West and ownerships decision to bringing in Posey insures that irrelevance will continue for at least the next 5 years.
TigersLoveCinnamon
So Adames to sf, Fitzgerald to the keystone?
BlooperDisbeliever
I don’t think the Braves should count on Arcia being better in 2025, but signing Adames would be a mistake to me. The Braves need to get more speed in their lineup. Short is a good spot to do that. Here’s hoping Nacho Alvarez steps up during Spring Training
Pickle_Britches
Posey will turn things around. He’s a true leader. Reason why he has 3ws rings and his last year playing the giants had the best record. Posey has common sense. That’s ideal for winning
Pickle_Britches
Dodgers spent all that cheese on a SP who’s never faces MLB talent but yet Shota from the Cubs I would take all day. Lol
alcameron
Adames homecoming to Detroit who was a part of trade for Price.
Tigs were actually considering bringing him up to the show when he was 19 after Iglesias was ruled out for the year with his shin issues. They also approached then 1b coach Omar visquel about coming out of retirement since they were so desperate at short lol
Citizen1
How long would the red’s interview process took if they interview the 99 other candidates?