The best available free agent shortstop is Willy Adames but he could also expand his market by playing elsewhere. Per Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic, Adames wants to stay at short but would be willing to move to other positions for the right offer from a competitive club. On the Baseball Tonight podcast, Jorge Castillo of ESPN says the Mets have considered signing Adames and moving him to third while others have also considered second base (39:05 mark of this link at Apple Podcasts link).
Adames probably doesn’t need to make the shift based on his abilities, though he is coming off a bit of a down year in terms of his glovework. He was credited with 10 fielding errors in 2024, more than the seven he had in the previous two seasons combined. Defensive Runs Saved gave him a dismal grade of -16 for the year while Outs Above Average merely had him at par. However, DRS gave him a positive grade in each of the previous five seasons while Adames had a big +16 grade from OAA in 2023 and +10 the year prior.
Clubs could view that more as an outlier season, as opposed to Adames suddenly falling off a cliff defensively at the age of 28. Still, there’s logic to him being open to a position change. Any free agent is helped by having more suitors, as a more fervent bidding war can drive up prices, as opposed to a stagnant market that sees the player linger in free agency. Adames has no third base experience in the big leagues and only a small amount at second, but most shortstops are able to pivot elsewhere on the diamond without much issue. He has a .248/.322/.444 career batting line and hit .251/.331/.462 for a 119 wRC+ in 2024, offense that would play at any position.
There are plenty of clubs that already have shortstops but could perhaps use help at second or third, with the Mets being one of them. They have one of the best shortstops in the league in Francisco Lindor, who is under contract through 2031 and just wrapped up a strong season that might see him finish second to Shohei Ohtani in National League Most Valuable Player voting.
But second and third base are a bit more open. Jeff McNeil is arguably the best option for the keystone but his performance has wobbled in recent years and he’s also capable of playing other spots. At third, Mark Vientos just had a breakout season at the plate but with poor defense and it’s been suggested the club could look to move him to first base as a replacement for free agent Pete Alonso.
The Mets could take that approach with an existing third baseman like Alex Bregman, as he is a better hitter than Adames and already established at the position. But Adames is a couple of years younger and could secure a lesser contract just based on his track record. MLBTR recently projected Bregman for $182MM over seven years and Adames for $160MM over six seasons in our annual Top 50 Free Agents post.
For Adames, having a club like the Mets at the table can only help. They are one of the top spending clubs in the league but there would be no point in them getting involved if Adames was firmly committed to staying at short, so it’s sensible for him to express openness to moving. Clubs like the Yankees, Mariners, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Royals could also be classified as having greater needs at infield positions other than shortstop, so getting them to the table as well could further expand his market.
One of the more straightforward fits would be the Giants, with president of baseball operations Buster Posey frankly admitting yesterday that the club is on the lookout for shortstops. However, Adames has received a qualifying offer from the Brewers that he’s sure to reject, thus tying him to the associated penalties.
Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic suggests that Posey might try to avoid signing players that rejected qualifying offers so early in his tenure. The Giants just had a hamstrung draft a few months ago, as they gave up their second- and third-round picks to sign Blake Snell and Matt Chapman last offseason, both of whom had rejected qualifying offers. The Giants went on to pay the competitive balance tax in 2024, meaning that signing any QO’d players this time around would result in forfeiting their second- and fifth-best picks of the upcoming draft as well as $1MM of international bonus space.
The Giants are one of the most sensible on-paper fits for Adames as a club with a strong record of spending and a clear need at shortstop. If they were to pivot to the trade market or signing a player without a qualifying offer like Ha-Seong Kim, that would only further the importance of Adames staying open to other positions.
As for a return to Milwaukee, that never seemed especially likely since the Brewers almost never give out massive contracts like the one Adames will surely require. Looking at MLBTR’s Contract Tracker shows that the Christian Yelich extension is the only time the club has surpassed $105MM on any deal. As if precedent wasn’t enough, owner Mark Attanasio basically confirmed it recently. “He’s going to get an enormous free-agent contract and I’m very happy for him and his family, and we’ll give it our best shot,” Attanasio said of Adames. “But there’s a lot deeper pockets out there. That’s just the reality.”
Adames recently reflected on those comments, per another column from Sammon and Woo. He seemingly left the door open for a hometown discount, though perhaps only slightly. “I’m willing to stay here for less money, let’s say, but I just want to be fair for what I deserve in my career and whatever I’ve done,” Adames said. “We just have to wait and see where we’re at. You never know what’s going to happen and you never know who is going to be willing to make that commitment with me for a long time.”
NYMETSHEA
No. No. No.
Stay the hell away from Willy Adames.
For the money, sign Bregman
metsin4
No to both.
Brew88
I’m also willing to move off SS on my beer league team, in case any on my team are reading..
Russell Branyan
I can’t imagine Willy being worth more to the Mets at 3B then to the Giants at SS.
Doesn’t hurt him to have the Mets bid, but providing he returns to pre 2024 defensive levels, he’s much more valuable as a SS than anywhere else.
BCleveland3381
Mets would have to lose out on Soto and Alonso to make this move, IMO. That scenario seems unlikely, but if they did lose out on both, I’d bet they’d be willing to overspend for Adames at 3B.
hiflew
The Mets and Giants will create a huge bidding war between themselves and then he will fail both their physicals and sign somewhere else for a lot less money.
BCleveland3381
I’m getting Deja vu
El JN
Having listened to the podcast, this sounded like pure speculation considering neither NY team was connected to him prior to now.
Soto goes to one NY team, Alonso then goes to another; Mets need starting pitching as well, and Yanks need a 1B. so I don’t think Adames to NY happens.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Agree that if Yankees lose Soto they will sign Pete Alonso and/or Christian Walker. For Mets, Vientos will be either 1B or DH. But I still see the Mets signing Alonso if they do not get Soto. I see Adames as going to the Giants or Dodgers, in that order of likelihood.
HalosHeavenJJ
If the Yanks lose out on Soto, it might be a blessing in disguise.
For $50+ million per year they could get Burnes and Walker. They’d need to add one OF’er, but trade pieces are available. Taylor Ward will cost about $8 million next year and is at least solid.
El JN
I concur with your NY points. However, not sure if Adames is a Giant – his ties to LA have been going for like 2 years and he is the reason why Friedman did the David Price trade in 2014 (young prospect with Tigers who went to Rays then).
However, HSK seems like a Giant to me. It feels like Posey and Boras will have a great relationship after that Chapman extension.
John Bird
Dodgers GM said they’re planning to move Mookie back to the infield so sounds more like they are going to make a play for Soto. Agree that HSK would make more sense for SF if not for the injury. Giants fans are pretty burned out on taking on damaged goods.
seamaholic 2
Sounds like he already has a team in mind and is trying to pull in the Mets as a big bad bogeyman to up his price.
Russell Branyan
Shouldn’t be too hard to fleece Posey. Dude spearheaded what would have been a disaster Correa deal, and cried to the media when it fell apart. Undermines Farhan and CO to unilaterally give Chapman a deal.
If Posey wants someone, reason be damned
metsin4
He’s seeing his market is not what it’s cracked up to be. He’s inconsistent from year to year.
CardsFan57
I’m hearing him say just pay me and play me where you want
Jason m
Willy Adames at 3rd base for the Blue Jays makes a ton of sense…
Samuel
Jason m;
Right!
Then they can trade Bichette at the deadline and Adames can slide over to SS.
Makes too much sense.
– My parody post for the day –
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Dodgers about to add another 85-120 mil to their payroll.
Shawnpe
There is no team that signs him that will not be better with him and his contract than without him.
That includes the Mets.
Tom the ray fan
All around solid ball player, even better leader. Miss him everyday. Best wishes moving forward Willy!
Rsox
Will Buster Posey sign Farhan’s “great white whale”: a big name free agent that he didn’t have to wait out til the end of spring training?
Butter Biscuits
I don’t see Bregman getting a larger contract than Adames
Ma4170
I just dont see bregman getting that much, even though 3b isnt a stacked position. I have to believe teams are learning somewhat from these deals to guys like Kris Bryant. Hope the mets stay far away from him.
HalosHeavenJJ
So he’s willing to move to positions that typically pay less money and admits he’ll stay in Milwaukee for less than other teams will pay him.
His agent must be so happy.
slider32
Top free agents are only good for contending teams, one they are over paid, two they are mostly past prime.