MLBTR has taken a have a look at the markets for Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Alex Bregman in a trio of posts for Commerce Rumors Entrance Workplace subscribers. We’ll proceed that with a have a look at the doubtless marketplace for one of many high free agent infielders: Willy Adames.
The longtime Brewers shortstop is among the many most potent bats within the recreation at his place. Adames slugged a career-high 32 house runs in 2024, topping his earlier highwater mark of 31 round-trippers, set in 2022. Over the previous 4 seasons, he is tied with Corey Seager for the MLB lead in shortstop house runs (112). He is extra strikeout-prone than some groups would possibly like, however he is lower his strikeout fee in 4 consecutive seasons now, fanning in one-quarter of his plate appearances this previous yr. That is nonetheless a good bit, but it surely’s not egregiously north of league common, which sat at 22.6% in 2024.
The Brewers purchased low on Adames early within the 2021 season when he was scuffling with the Rays, sending a pair of usually unproven relievers to Tampa Bay: J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen. It labored out for each events in the long run. Adames turned an All-Star shortstop, and each pitchers turned key components of Tampa Bay’s employees — Rasmussen specifically. He is rattled off 4 straight seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA, a lot of it out of the rotation.
Adames hit .244/.323/.457 in components of 4 seasons in Milwaukee. That general line is dragged down by a pedestrian 2023 season, however Adames has been no less than 9% higher than common on the plate in 4 of the previous 5 years, by measure of wRC+ (and no less than 19% higher in three of the previous 5). He is sometimes graded out as a plus defender, although his defensive metrics took an surprising dip final yr — due largely to an uncharacteristically error-prone stretch in July the place he made eight miscues in simply three weeks.
Groups will doubtless nonetheless view Adames as a participant with sturdy defensive instruments, and he is prepared to maneuver to a different place — third base or second base — if the suitable alternative presents itself. Adames made the no-brainer choice to reject a qualifying supply from Milwaukee. He is certainly stored a watchful eye as fellow shortstops Trevor Story ($140MM), Javier Baez ($140MM) and Dansby Swanson ($177MM) all cashed in on main free-agent offers heading into their very own age-29 seasons. Adames, whose gregarious persona and fame as a clubhouse chief solely additional improve his attraction to golf equipment, arguably has as a lot or much more incomes energy than any of that bunch.
Let’s check out which groups may very well be concerned.
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