Rumor: Will The Red Sox Pursue Shortstop Willy Adames This Offseason?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Chris Cotillo of MassLive wrote recently that there is desire within the Red Sox organization to pursue 29-year-old Willy Adames and they value the shortstop highly. It's an... interesting... idea that evokes comparisons to the Padres of the past five years in the "gotta catch 'em all" approach to middle infielders. The Sox already have a rather loaded - if inconsistent - infield picture heading into the 2025 season.

Additionally, there are concerns about Adames' steep defensive fall-off this season. While a plus defender at short in previous seasons, he backslid in almost all metrics in 2024, posting a -16 Defensive Runs Saved and a +0 Outs Above Average. Both stats are far down from Adames's previous two seasons, when he was well above average.

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[moonslav59]

Unless we trade Mayer, I doubt we even contact his agent.

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Unless we trade Mayer, I doubt we even contact his agent.

It just doesn't make sense to me but I keep seeing the rumor circulating so felt obligated to run it.

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

It just doesn't make sense to me but I keep seeing the rumor circulating so felt obligated to run it.

Well, I could see us doing exactly what I mentioned: trading Mayer (for a pitcher,) then spending money on Adames. Spending on FA pitchers seems more risky than on Adames.

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

Well, I could see us doing exactly what I mentioned: trading Mayer (for a pitcher,) then spending money on Adames. Spending on FA pitchers seems more risky than on Adames.

That's almost certainly the case. Pitching is always as high-risk as it gets.

I don't know what to think of Adames. Obviously, I watched a ton of Brewers games this season. He was *mostly* just fine on defense and I suspect a ton of his negative value came from kicking the ball around the diamond, which he did an incredible amount this season. Is that a trend in the wrong direction for him or just a one year aberration? I really don't know. He still seems pretty rangy and capable to the eye.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

That's almost certainly the case. Pitching is always as high-risk as it gets.

I don't know what to think of Adames. Obviously, I watched a ton of Brewers games this season. He was *mostly* just fine on defense and I suspect a ton of his negative value came from kicking the ball around the diamond, which he did an incredible amount this season. Is that a trend in the wrong direction for him or just a one year aberration? I really don't know. He still seems pretty rangy and capable to the eye.

I used to live in Milwaukee and was a big Tommy Harper and Brewers fans, when the first moved to Milwaukee from Seattle.

I'm a huge fan of great defense at SS. I admit I don't know how to project Adames defense going forward, or if there is any way to predict he direction on D. I might pass for that very reason.

Like the RHB aspect, but the kinda low OBP makes me have doubts. He's just 29, so the "risk" of bust is less than almost any FA pitcher, though.

[Old Red]

13 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Well, I could see us doing exactly what I mentioned: trading Mayer (for a pitcher,) then spending money on Adames. Spending on FA pitchers seems more risky than on Adames.

 

I doubt very much at all the Red Sox have Mayer on the block, and the Red Sox still have Story under contract for the next 3 years. A total non story to me.🙈🤭

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

When Muncy had to play first base for LA last night because of Freeman's injury, announcers noted how it wasn't that easy, moving from one position to another across the diamond.

But I have no doubt that Story has the soft hands to play first to accommodate this deal, and welcome a lesser defender like Adames to help Boston's D regress even more. That's how much this makes sense...

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

When Muncy had to play first base for LA last night because of Freeman's injury, announcers noted how it wasn't that easy, moving from one position to another across the diamond.

But I have no doubt that Story has the soft hands to play first to accommodate this deal, and welcome a lesser defender like Adames to help Boston's D regress even more. That's how much this makes sense...

Yes, and Yoshida could play CF too.

[notin]

Trying to be San Diego and have shortstops everywhere?

 This seems like an odd potential acquisition, not because of Mayer but because of Story…

[Old Red]

Just now, notin said:

Trying to be San Diego and have shortstops everywhere?

 This seems like an odd potential acquisition, not because of Mayer but because of Story…

Like I said Non Story.

[notin]

38 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Like I said Non Story.

If the Sox wanted Adames, they’d have to outbid the Dodgers to get him.

 

[notin]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

When Muncy had to play first base for LA last night because of Freeman's injury, announcers noted how it wasn't that easy, moving from one position to another across the diamond.

That’s probably why only about a quarter of the first basemen in MLB moved over there from third base…