The 2024 MLB offseason has begun and we have seen some big contracts already come out. Shortstop Willy Adames has been one of the top hitters on the market and he has officially found a new home, signing a seven-year, $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. This is going to be interesting as this is the first signing that the Giants had made this offseason and really solidifies the left side of their infield for the next handful of years with Willy Adames and third baseman Matt Chapman. Let’s take a deeper dive into the deal and discuss what this means going forward.
Willy Adames Lands in San Francisco
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This move, first reported by Jeff Passan, is significant for the San Francisco Giants as they try to be competitive in a division with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Willy Adames had a massive season and is 29 years old. Last season, he finished with 118 OPS+ with 32 home runs, 112 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases on 25 attempts, which got him 10th place in the 2024 NL MVP voting. Now, he is solidifying being the team’s shortstop for the majority of his contract with third baseman Matt Chapman signing a six-year extension in September.
This also takes a lot of offense off the board for teams that fall short in the Juan Soto sweepstakes as he was viewed as one of the top offensive weapons available. Instead of waiting, Willy Adames has agreed to the largest contract in San Francisco Giants history and is the sixth-highest paid shortstop in terms of average annual value ($26,000,000) behind the following players:
- Francisco Lindor: $34.1M
- Carlos Correa: $33.3M
- Corey Seager: $32.5M
- Trea Turner: $27.27M
- Bobby Witt Jr.: $25.285M
This could significantly alter the hitter’s market during the remainder of the offseason but one of the top bats in his prime are no longer available. It will be interesting to see how Willy Adames hits in San Francisco as he tries to replicate his 2024 season.
