What Adames’ addition means for Fitzgerald, the rest of the Giants infield originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
DALLAS — Despite all the attention his midseason portrayal of Barry Bonds brought, Tyler Fitzgerald did a pretty good job of keeping his cool. He was open about his disappointing numbers down the stretch, and as he packed up to head home for the winter, he said he knew there was a good chance the Giants would look for a new short stop.
“We’ll see what steps we take,” Fitzgerald said in September. “I know my job is not secure, especially with the way I played [late in the season]but I think there is definitely a role in my future. I think I’ve earned a role to start next year.”
His new boss certainly agrees.
Before the Willy Adames contract became official, Posey called Fitzgerald to update him. Posey couldn’t talk about Adames on Monday when he met with reporters for the first time at the Winter Meetings because the new shortstop had yet to complete his physical, but he made it clear that the big addition won’t keep Fitzgerald out of the lineup. The Giants expect the homegrown infielder to start on the other side of the bag.
“I think Tyler has a real advantage at second base,” Posey said.
Getting the Adames deal done so early in the offseason comes with a lot of benefits, including the fact that Fitzgerald can now focus on just one position. He planned to suit up as a shortstop because that would make it easier to transition if he were to go second, and he can now work just one spot for the rest of the offseason. When he came in last spring, he was ready for a utility role.
Manager Bob Melvin thinks the clarity will be a major problem for the second-year player. He noted that Fitzgerald left at the plate after the Giants abandoned the Nick Ahmed experiment and had him play shortstop, his natural position, instead of also taking reps at second, third, outfield and even at first base.
“I think as we saw last year, once he got a chance to play every day, it looked a lot different,” Melvin said.
With Matt Chapman at third, Adames at short and Fitzgerald at second, the Giants are as set in the infield as they have been in years. The big remaining question is at first base, where incumbent LaMonte Wade Jr. an up and down season and Wilmer Flores hopes to bounce back from a disappointing year that ended with knee surgery.
During the Winter Meetings, Posey and general manager Zack Minasian both spoke highly of Wade, who had a .438 on-base percentage in the first half but dropped to .316 after the break. He played just 117 games and has been hampered by lower-body injuries in recent years, but he also posted a second straight two-WAR season and will earn about $5 million in arbitration, a very reasonable price for a corner infielder.
Posey, who played with Wade in 2021, called him a “special player” and said his ability to get on base means a lot to the lineup. Minasian said Wade’s basic skills are “highly appreciated in today’s match” and added that he is a trusted defender. Still, both executives said the Giants would be open-minded about first base.
“Personally, I feel very comfortable with LaMonte, I know Buster is too,” Minasian said. “It won’t stop us from looking at players in that position.”
Minasian pointed out that the Giants also have a DH spot to fill, and that could make a first-base type even more attractive. At some point, top prospect Bryce Eldridge would take over, but there are intriguing short-term options, including Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana. Goldschmidt in particular has a lot of fans in the organization, and Posey knows him all too well after spending years trying to figure out how to get him out at Oracle Park.
The Giants don’t plan on rushing Eldridge, so they figure they will have at-bats available at first base or DH for most of the season. Melvin said he would prefer to cycle players to the DH spot, and if Wade is still around and another first baseman is added, he could be a lead option. Wade would also be a somewhat attractive trade target for other organizations given his ability to get on base. Regardless of how things turn out, the Giants could certainly use another bat before winter is over.
For now, as they prepare to introduce Adames, it’s Wade and Flores on the corner, and Melvin said the latter is excited about the way his rehab is going. Flores has opted out of the final year of his contract and the Giants plan to bring him into camp to see where he stands and if he can be part of the DH/first starting mix. Despite everything that went wrong in 2024, he was their most consistent hitter a year earlier.
“Vintage Wilmer would almost be like adding another one [free agent] also,” Melvin said. “He wasn’t healthy enough to be himself last year after the year before where he was an absolutely stellar performer offensively. He can also play first base. It’s exciting to know that he is completely healthy. If you’re talking about any other bat, it can be as simple as Wilmer being Wilmer.”
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