Shortstop Willy Adames, set to become a free agent after this season, is a notable player with a career WAR nearing 20.
At 28, he’s been a strong defensive shortstop and a consistent hitter with an OPS+ of at least 109 in five of his seven seasons, including 2024. Adames has accumulated at least three WAR in each of his three seasons with the Brewers, including the year he was traded to Milwaukee in late May 2021, and he’s on track for about four WAR this year.
Given the Brewers’ recent trends, many believe Adames will not remain in Milwaukee, and there’s speculation he could be traded before the trade deadline. With his recent impressive home run, it’s a good time to consider the Brewers’ options regarding Adames. What might they do, and what should they do?
Before addressing those questions, it’s important to evaluate Adames’ standing among MLB shortstops. While he’s certainly a strong player, the league is full of talented shortstops. Let’s take a closer look.
Willy Adames has noticed those prices too, and it seems he’s admitting that he won’t be staying with the Brewers beyond 2024 because of it.
wish I could stay here, I really like this organization, I like the guys, I love the city, I love the fans. I wish I could stay here” is what Adames said after being asked about if his feelings are still the same about a long term contract after seeing how high of a bar the shortstop market set this offseason.
The operative word here is ‘could’. That sentence “I wish I could stay here” makes it sound like staying here won’t happen, that it’s already a foregone conclusion that he won’t. Adames is an elite shortstop, top 10 in the league, and elite shortstops have just gotten paid big bucks and soon enough Adames will be looking for his share of that. He’ll be entering free agency in a relatively weak class for shortstops in 2024 and with prices likely to continue to rise, he’ll be in high demand.
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