If you put together a list of the best shortstops in baseball after Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager, Bobby Witt Jr. and Trea Turner, you can make a strong case that Willy Adames is the fifth-best shortstop in the game. And it’s not wild to think he might be the second-best free agent position player side available this winter, behind Juan Soto.
Adames put together his best campaign for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. Adames had a .251/.331/.462 slashline with a career-high in doubles (33), hits (153), home runs (32), runs (92) , runs batted in (112), walks (74) and stolen bases (21).
After the Tampa Bay Rays traded him to the Brewers in 2021, Adames turned himself into a true center and a dangerous presence for Milwaukee, and it showed in the production.
Adames is one of the best power threats at shortstop in the game right now. Since entering the league in 2018, only Lindor (188 home runs) has more home runs than Adames (150) among shortstops in that span. And he’s also proven he can be a premium producer, ranking fourth in RBI over the same span.
While advanced defensive metrics suggest the seven-year veteran took a step back (-16 DRS), Adames was rated as one of the best defensemen in the sport in the two previous seasons (combined 17 DRS in ’22 and ’23). A return to that level in 2025 is therefore possible. Adames’ reach, arm and athleticism could make him a solid defender at second or third base.
If there is a hole in Adames’ game, it is that he is not getting on base at a high clip. Through his seven seasons, Adames has an on-base percentage of .322. But as he’s gotten older and gained more power, Adames has become more selective, setting career highs each of the last two seasons with 71 in ’23 and 74 in ’24.
Perhaps Adames’ best attribute is his ability to run a clubhouse. You’ll never hear a bad word about Adames and whether it was Kevin Cash, Craig Counsell or Pat Murphy, managers love his leadership style and his ability to bring people together.
Jackson Chourio will be a star in the big leagues for a long time. The man charged with helping one of the game’s top players was Adames. Chourio told Yahoo Sports last spring that he sat right next to Adames in the clubhouse to learn from him and since Chourio had an excellent rookie campaign, that wisdom seemed to pay off.
Are Dodgers, Giants and Braves in the running for Adames?
When it comes to what the market looks like for Adames, he has the advantage of being the only shortstop available this winter. Unlike three years ago, when there was an influx of high-end shortstops in free agency, with names like Trevor Story, Dansby Swanson, Javier Báez and Carlos Correa all on the market. Adames will have the top of the market to himself, with the second best option in this position being Ha-Seong Kim.
For years, the Dodgers have been interested in Adames and even with Mookie Betts returning to the infield, Adames would make a lot of sense in LA. Other teams that could make a run at Adames include the Giants and Braves.
If Adames changes positions, even more potential candidates could emerge.
Adames’ deal will likely be in line with Swanson’s seven-year, $177 million deal he signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2022. The belief around baseball is that Adames’ popularity among teams could push that number to $200 million.
When you factor in the intangibles that make him great off the field, Adames could end up being the best value in this year’s free agent class.
