The San Francisco Giants Secure Shortstop Willy Adames Under a New Franchise-High Contract Agreement
The San Francisco Giants Secure Shortstop Willy Adames Under a New Franchise-High Contract Agreement
The freshly appointed San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, upped the ante again on Saturday, finalizing a whopping seven-year, $182 million contract with coveted free agent shortstop Willy Adames. This deal makes Adames the new holder of the Giants' biggest contract ever, surpassing Posey's previous nine-year, $167 million deal from 2013.
Adames, represented by Creative Artists’ Agency, is set to receive a hefty signing bonus of around $22 million and will have an average salary of approximately $26 million a season up until 2031, his age-35 season.
The Giants, previously criticized for their hesitancy to splurge in the free agent market under former general manager Farhan Zaidi, seem to be operating on a different level now, aiming to rejoin the NL West competition while going head-to-head with the division powerhouse and major league spenders, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Following Posey's successful push for third baseman Matt Chapman's six-year, $161 million extension, the Giants announced Zack Minasian as their new general manager. Chapman and Adames now give the Giants a powerful presence in the middle order while securing the left side of the infield until the end of the decade. Chapman's yearly salary will be $25.17 million through his retirement season in 2030, at age 38.
Adames must undergo a physical examination, but there's no expectation that any issues will arise, given his impressive 2024 season statistics with Milwaukee, where he hit 32 home runs and led major league shortstops in RBIs with 112.
The Giants initially offered a 13-year, $350 million deal to free agent shortstop Carlos Correa before the 2023 season, but withdrew the offer due to concerns discovered during Correa's physical examination. Eventually, Correa signed with the Minnesota Twins.
In addition to Adames' impressive stats, he also boasted 21 stolen bases in 2024, the most among NL shortstops, and led the league with 78 walks. Alongside Mets’ Francisco Lindor, they were the only NL shortstops to tally at least 30 homers and 20 stolen bases that year.
The 2024 Giants finished with a mediocre 80-82 record, their third consecutive season of mediocrity. Despite their World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014, Posey's primary contribution as the NL Rookie of the Year and Giants' first pick in the 2008 draft, the team has yet to achieve the same level of success since then, missing the playoffs seven times out of eight seasons.
Losers of several top offensive categories, the Giants also lost outfielder Michael Conforto to free agency. However, they stand to benefit from the return of 2023 top free agent signing center fielder Jung Hoo Lee, who was limited to 37 games due to a season-ending left shoulder injury in May, and signed a massive six-year, $113 million contract before the 2023 season.
The Giants relied on rookie Tyler Fitzgerald as their shortstop for the final three months of 2024, with Fitzgerald producing a .280/.334/.497 slash line, 15 home runs, and 17 stolen bases. Fitzgerald is being eyed as a potential second baseman for the 2025 season, having made brief appearances in the outfield and at second base the previous year.
Meanwhile, No. 1 starter Blake Snell left the team for a five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving the Giants in need of bolstering their already impressive rotation, which includes Logan Webb and Robbie Ray at the top. Corbin Burnes and Max Fried are some of the top arms available in the free agent market, while Sean Manaea and former Dodger Walker Buehler could also be potential options for the Giants.
The San Francisco Giants' new general manager, Zack Minasian, was appointed after Buster Posey's successful push for Matt Chapman's extension. Francisco Lindor, from the Mets, showcased impressive stats similar to Willy Adames, leading the league with 78 walks and 21 stolen bases in 2024. Bob Melvin's Giants are seeking to bolster their rotation, with Corbin Burnes and Max Fried among the top arms available in the free agent market.
Jung Hoon Lee, who signed a massive six-year, $113 million contract before the 2023 season, is expected to return from his season-ending injury and provide a boost to the Giants' offense. Buster Posey, in his new role as the Giants' president of baseball operations, previously finalized a seven-year, $182 million contract with Willy Adames, making him the team's biggest contract holder.
Despite the acquisitions, the Giants struggled in 2024, finishing with a mediocre 80-82 record, their third consecutive season of mediocrity. This was a stark contrast to their World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and Posey's primary contributions as the NL Rookie of the Year and the Giants' first pick in the 2008 draft. The team has yet to achieve the same level of success since then, missing the playoffs seven times out of eight seasons.