The San Francisco Giants have been making significant moves in the baseball world. Their new president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, has outdone himself with a series of high-profile contracts. One of the most notable is the seven-year, $182 million deal with free agent shortstop Willy Adames, who will now own the largest contract in Giants' history. This surpasses the previous nine-year, $167 million deal signed by Posey himself in 2013. Adames, who is set to receive a signing bonus of about $22 million and average $26 million per season through 2031, his age-35 season, is expected to be a key player for the Giants.

Giants' Shift in Spending Under Posey

The Giants were previously criticized for their perceived hesitancy to spend big money in the free agent marketplace under former general manager Farhan Zaidi. However, under Posey's leadership, they seem to be operating on a different level. They are now attempting to return to NL West contention while competing with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the sport's biggest spender. Posey was named president of baseball operations on Sept. 30, just a few weeks after he played a crucial role in pushing Matt Chapman's six-year, $161 million contract extension through. The Giants recently named Zack Minasian as general manager, further strengthening their front office.Adames and Chapman give the Giants a middle-of-the-order presence while securing the left side of the infield for the rest of the decade. Chapman will make $25.17 million per year through the 2030 season, his age-38 season. This dynamic duo is set to make a significant impact on the team's performance.

Adames' 2024 Performance and Impact

Adames must pass a physical, but there is no expected issue as he had an outstanding 2024 season. He hit 32 home runs and led major league shortstops with 112 RBIs with Milwaukee. At the same time, the Giants backed away from a 13-year, $350 million offer to free agent shortstop Carlos Correa before the 2023 season due to a medical concern during his physical. Correa later signed with the Minnesota Twins. Adames had 21 stolen bases and also led NL shortstops with 78 walks in 2024. He and the Mets' Francisco Lindor were the only NL shortstops with at least 30 homers and 20 stolen bases. Lindor had 33 homers and 29 steals.This shows Adames' all-around skills and his ability to contribute in multiple aspects of the game. His presence will add a new dimension to the Giants' lineup.

Offensive Capabilities and Injuries

The Giants had a mixed 2024 season. They were 80-82 in manager Bob Melvin's first year, with their third straight season of mediocrity (240-246 over that span) and the seventh time in the last eight seasons they missed the playoffs. They finished in the middle of the major league pack in most offensive categories last season and lost outfielder Michael Conforto to free agency. However, they should be bolstered by the return of 2023 top free agent sign center fielder Jung Hoo Lee, who played only 37 games a year before suffering a season-ending left shoulder injury in May. Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract before last season, which was the largest contract for a free agent position player in franchise history. Right-hander Johnny Cueto had the previous record for any free agent, signing a six-year, $130 million deal in 2016.The return of Lee will add to the Giants' offensive capabilities and give them a boost as they look to improve their performance in the coming seasons.

Player Movements and Rotation Considerations

The Giants also faced some player movement challenges. They lost No. 1 starter Blake Snell to free agency when he signed a five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers a week ago. Both Adames and Snell are represented by Scott Boras. This loss will require the Giants to look for ways to bolster their rotation, which currently features Logan Webb and Robbie Ray at the top. Corbin Burnes and Max Fried are the biggest arms in the free agent market, but Sean Manaea and former Dodger Walker Buehler could be options. Manaea had three seasons of double-digit wins in Oakland from 2017-21, when Melvin was the manager.The Giants will need to make strategic decisions in the winter meetings to address their rotation needs and ensure they have a strong team going forward.