Longtime division rivals seen as a landing spot for potential SF Giants shortstop target

The SF Giants certainly have a need for a shortstop and veteran infielder Willy Adames checks that box. Jon Heyman of the New York Post cites sources around the league that see the Los Angeles Dodgers as the favorites to land the power-hitting bat.

Longtime division rival seen as a landing spot for potential SF Giants shortstop target

The Giants have been seen as a possible landing spot for some time. However, Heyman speculates that Adames is poised to see a healthy market in free agency, listing the Giants, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays as potential suitors along with the Dodgers.

There is a good chance that the right-handed bat has played his final game with the Milwaukee Brewers. He could score a payday in the neighborhood of $200 million, which would be well out of Milwaukee's comfort zone.

That said, the big-market clubs such as the Giants, Dodgers, and Mets can certainly afford that cost. Before Adames hits free agency, the Brewers will issue a $21 million qualifying offer that he will reject in favor of free agency.

This could have a downstream effect for a team like the Giants given that they crossed the $237 million Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold in 2024. If they were to sign a player who rejected a qualifying offer, they would lose their second-and-fifth-round pick as well as $1 million in international bonus pool money.

That is a risk that the Giants might be willing to make. After all, they certainly have a long-term need at shortstop and a bat that they can pencil into the middle of the lineup.

The seven-year veteran is coming off of a strong 2024 campaign in which he posted a .251/.331/.462 line (119 wRC+) with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 93 runs in 688 plate appearances. This includes a 10.8 percent walk rate, 25.1 percent strikeout rate, and .211 ISO.

Do I need to mention when the last time a Giants hitter tallied at least 30 home runs in a season? Adames has the type of power to finally break that curse.

Plus, he has generally graded out as an above-average fielder at shortstop. Of course, 2024 was an exception as he registered -16 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), 0 Outs Above Average (OAA), and Fielding Run Value (FRV). Depending on the metric you use, he was either well below average or neutral.

There is no denying that Adames would check off a lot of boxes for the Giants. That is true for several other teams as well.