The Yankees and Giants are among the many groups which have proven curiosity in Willy Adames, writes Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The market’s prime shortstop has additionally been tied to the Astros, Phillies, Blue Jays, Braves and Pink Sox all through the offseason.
New York’s prime precedence is re-signing Juan Soto. They may know throughout the subsequent few days whether or not Soto will keep within the Bronx or settle for a $600MM+ provide elsewhere. If Soto walks, there’d be quite a lot of strain on each proprietor Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman to land a number of gamers from the subsequent tiers of free company.
Adames and Alex Bregman are most likely the next-best place gamers. Neither goes to return near Soto’s contract, in fact, however they might every land a deal within the $150-200MM vary. Whereas Bregman could be a extra easy positional match, it’s potential the group might nonetheless have animosity over the third baseman’s position within the 2017 sign-stealing operation. Adames carries no such baggage.
The Yankees don’t want a shortstop. Anthony Volpe is likely one of the sport’s prime defensive infielders. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com wrote lately that the Yanks have been unwilling to maneuver Volpe off the place. Adames is reportedly keen to think about a place change, although it’s potential he’d signal with a group that’ll hold him at shortstop if he’s weighing a number of presents in the identical value vary.
Shortstop is the one infield place that’s settled within the Bronx. Jazz Chisholm Jr. will likely be within the combine at both second or third base. If Chisholm replaces Gleyber Torres on the keystone, the highest inner third base potentialities are DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and prospect Caleb Durbin. That’s not adequate for a group attempting to get again to the World Sequence. The Yankees might additionally improve at first base, the place Ben Rice is the perfect in-house possibility.
Adames hasn’t performed third base within the majors. He has 10 profession video games exterior of shortstop, all of which got here at second base throughout his 2018 rookie season. Shortstops often transfer to different infield positions with out subject. Adames has plus arm energy and athleticism. His sometimes sturdy defensive grades dipped this 12 months due to a spike in errors, however there’s not a lot motive to consider he wouldn’t be an efficient third baseman.
There’d be no want for a place change in San Francisco. President of baseball operations Buster Posey stated firstly of the offseason that the Giants wished so as to add a shortstop. That’d enable them to maneuver Tyler Fitzgerald to second base, the place he’s a greater match. San Francisco was linked to Ha-Seong Kim, the market’s #2 shortstop, a number of weeks in the past.
Kim is getting back from labrum surgical procedure on his throwing shoulder. That makes him riskier than Adames however ought to dramatically cut back the value. Whereas Adames is more likely to signal for six or seven years, Kim might accept a two-year deal that enables him to choose out after subsequent season. The previous Padres infielder additionally has an apparent connection to San Francisco skipper Bob Melvin.
Adames rejected a qualifying provide from the Brewers. The Yankees and Giants every exceeded the luxurious tax threshold this 12 months, in order that they’d pay the best penalties to signal a certified free agent. Both group would lose their second- and fifth-highest decide in subsequent summer season’s draft and $1MM from their 2026 worldwide signing bonus pool.
