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Baseball

The San Francisco Giants Sign Willy Adames to a 7-Year, $182M Contract

2024-12-07

The San Francisco Giants have taken a significant step in shaping their roster with the signing of top free-agent shortstop Willy Adames. This move comes as part of the team's ongoing effort to focus on pitching and defense, echoing their philosophy during the championship era of the early 2010s. Adames, a 29-year-old with a proven track record, is set to become the Giants' shortstop of the future, playing alongside Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman.

Adames' Impressive Stats and Abilities

Adames not only fills a crucial positional need but also brings a potent bat to the middle of the lineup. In 2024, he hit a career-high 32 home runs along with 33 doubles and had 112 RBIs. His batting average of.251, along with on-base and slugging percentages of.334 and.462 respectively, demonstrate his offensive prowess. He also set a career high in stolen bases with 21 in 25 attempts. His 4.8 fWAR ranked ninth in the National League, and he finished 10th in NL MVP voting. His consistent power production is evident, as he has hit 107 home runs in his four seasons as an everyday shortstop for the Rays (2019) and Brewers (2022 - 2024).

Defensive Challenges and Past Performance

While Adames had an outstanding year at the plate in 2024, his defense faced some challenges. His -17 defensive runs saved ranked as the worst among shortstops last season, which was an aberration compared to his previous performances. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons combined, he had 17 DRS, second only to Dansby Swanson in the National League during that span. This shows that his defensive skills are not a consistent weakness but rather a temporary setback.

Impact on the Roster and Future Plans

The signing of Adames likely takes the Giants out of the running for infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who is recovering from a shoulder operation and is expected to miss the first months of the season. Tyler Fitzgerald, who played the majority of games at shortstop in the second half of the season, will likely move to second base. The Giants are likely to continue their pursuit of another frontline starting pitcher. They have had talks with free agent pitcher Corbin Burnes, who would command a similar contract to Blake Snell's five-year, $182 million deal. The starting pitcher market is robust and includes other top-of-the-rotation starters like Max Fried and fellow California native Jack Flaherty.

Financial Implications and Significance

Adames' seven-year, $182 million contract is the Giants' largest since Posey himself signed for $167 million over nine years in 2013 and is their largest free-agent contract since they signed starting pitcher Johnny Cueto for $130 million over six years in 2015. This shows the team's commitment to building a competitive roster and investing in key players. It also sets a new standard for the franchise in terms of contract values and player acquisitions.