SF Giants need to make long overdue move with shortstop Willy Adames

It’s been a tough year for SF Giants shortstop Willy Adames. He’s underperformed both at the plate and in the field. He had an embarrassing incident in Los Angeles against the Dodgers when he forgot how many outs there were after laughing it up with Mookie Betts. 

He’s also dealt with a lingering back injury that has certainly affected his play and there was even controversy surrounding an erroneous comment a broadcaster made on an Apple TV that seemed to question Adames’ work ethic.

On Wednesday it became clear that Adames was not moving correctly as he patty-caked two balls in consecutive innings that certainly could have used a bit more zip on them. Manager Tony Vitello removed him from the game and said the back injury flared up on him. Vitello said Adames shouldn't need to go on the IL, but at this point there is no reason not to shut him down the rest of this season.

Adames doesn’t want to go on the IL surely. To his credit, he has made a concerted effort to play every day even when it’s been obvious for a while that he is not fully healthy. At this point in the year, though, there is really no point in him trying to tough it out.

The Giants are on track for one of the worst records in franchise history and maybe Adames feels he needs to be out there to justify that massive seven-year, $182 million deal he inked prior to the 2025 season that looks like a mistake right now. But given the fact he’s owed all that money, it’s time to shut him down, let him rest up and heal to avoid a major injury, and come back next season fresh and rejuvenated.

He’s hitting .224/.285/.413 with 19 home runs and 48 runs batted in. He has graded out as one of the worst defensive shortstops in the game and the eye test has backed that up. He’s not going to magically turn it around in the last month and a half especially since he’s banged up.

Matt Chapman is already done for the year after undergoing surgery so it’s not like he won’t have a buddy to chat with on the bench. You’d rather have a player who has to be dragged off the field than a Ketel Marte, but it’s time to put Adames on the IL which probably should have been done weeks ago.

Putting Willy Adames on the IL will give other Giants a chance

Let other players get an opportunity. Will it be thrilling to watch Christian Koss and Osleivis Basabe get reps at shortstop the rest of the season? Not really, but who cares at this point? At least Marcelo Mayer will likely be up soon and he’s one of the more intriguing players the Giants got at the trade deadline.

This season is a wash and the only thing that could make it worse is if one of the team’s biggest investments suffers a major injury which prevents him from bouncing back next year.

Adames may not like it, but it’s time for the Giants to do what must be done and protect a player who wants to play no matter what.

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