The San Francisco Giants entered the offseason with a major gap at shortstop. That spot within the lineup has reportedly been stuffed with one of many greatest signings in latest franchise historical past.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Giants signed shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract. Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted that Adames’ contract is the biggest in franchise historical past, surpassing the eight-year, $167 million contract signed by former catcher and present president of baseball operations Buster Posey in 2013.
Rated because the ninth-best free agent, and prime shortstop out there, by MLB.com, Adames had one other stable 12 months in 2024. He posted a .251/.331/.462 batting line in his 688 plate appearances, hitting 32 homers and 33 doubles whereas stealing 21 bases. Adames posted profession highs in homers, doubles, steals and RBI (112) in his last season in Milwaukee.
Adames might find yourself as a cut price for the Giants. He has flown underneath the radar in his profession, having by no means been named an All-Star and incomes MVP votes simply twice. Nevertheless, Adames ranks seventh among shortstops with 16.5 bWAR because the begin of the 2020 season. At 29 years outdated, Adames remains to be in his theoretical prime and must be a key a part of the Giants lineup for years to come back.
Signing Adames additionally provides stability to the place. Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle had reported that the Giants had been trying to signal a shortstop regardless of the emergence of infielder Tyler Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, who has hung out at second, might slide over to the keystone and provides the Giants their double-play combo for the remainder of the last decade.