Free agent shortstop Willy Adames could attract Giants and Dodgers

Most Major League Baseball analysts consider Willy Adames to be the best shortstop available on the free agent market.

The right-hander Adames, who turned 29 in September, is coming off a 32-home run season for the National League Central Division-winning Milwaukee Brewers.

Adames drove in a career-best 112 runs for the Brewers.

Adames also stole a career-best 21 bases in 25 attempts.

Adames scored 93 runs in 688 plate appearances.

However, he didn’t have his best defensive year as a shortstop.

About Willy Adames:

Willy Adames is 6-1, 219 pounds.

In 2012, the Detroit Tigers signed shortstop Willy Adames as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic for $420,000.

The Tigers traded Adames to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team trade between the Tigers, Seattle Mariners and Rays.

The Tigers received pitcher David Price from the Rays as the centerpiece of the deal.

Adames was considered a Grade 60 shortstop at the time of his signing as a teenager and was considered a potential All Star.

In 2018, at age 22, Adames made his MLB debut with the Rays.

Adames showed promise as a hitter and good defender, posting a .278 batting average in 323 plate appearances as a rookie.

The Rays traded Adames to the Brewers on May 21, 2021.

Adames played parts of four seasons for Milwaukee, but he never made an All-Star team.

In fact, it’s quite surprising that Adames has never won a major MLB award.

Adames has never been a Silver Slugger. However, this year he is nominated for the award. The winners will be announced on November 12th.

Adames has never won a Gold Glove.

Entry into free agency:

Scouts view Adames as a “complete” player and the type of shortstop who can bring a combination of speed, power and solid defense to one of the diamond’s most important positions.

The Brewers believe he will likely decline, but have made Adames a qualifying offer worth $21.05 million. However, Adames has not confirmed at this point.

If Adames declines the offer, the Brewers will receive draft pick compensation if Adames signs elsewhere.

As dodgersway.com noted, Adames earned $12.25 million last season in his final year as an umpire with the Brewers.

Potential applicants:

This old scout sees the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants as the two most promising candidates for Willy Adames’ talents.

Los Angeles Dodgers:

The Dodgers have been unsure at shortstop for years.

They tried out Gavin Lux and All Star Mookie Betts at shortstop last season and prefer Betts to play second base again or perhaps right field again. Lux would play a more static role.

Enter Adames.

When it comes to trying to find a permanent solution at shortstop, Adames appears to have been on the Dodgers’ radar for years.

This could be the year Adames becomes world champion.

Granted, the Dodgers picked up the club option they had on infielder/outfielder Miguel Rojas for the 2025 season. However, Adames is considered a better shortstop overall than Rojas.

Obviously, the Dodgers have the financial resources to get Willy Adames the free agent contract he wants.

San Francisco Giants:

The Giants have decisions to make regarding defensive positioning for the upcoming season.

And it appears the Giants have the financial wherewithal to land Willy Adames.

27-year-old Tyler Fitzgerald burst onto the Giants scene with a great offensive season.

Fitzgerald played in 72 games at shortstop, six games at second base, 11 games in the outfield, two games at first base and pitched in three games.

A versatile player, Fitzgerald burst onto the Giants scene last season with 19 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 34 RBIs in 341 plate appearances.

New President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey told the media that he was indeed looking for a shortstop.

Posey would rather see if Marco Luciano, a young player developed as a shortstop, could be more successful as an outfielder.

If the Giants want to add depth to their lineup, inserting Adames at shortstop could be a great option.