MLBTR weighs in on Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Alex Bregman in three posts for Trade Rumors Front Desk subscribers The market was studied. We continue by taking a look at the likely market for one of the top free agent infielders: Willie Adams.
The Brewers’ longtime shortstop has one of the most powerful bats at his position in the game. Adams hit a career-high 32 home runs in 2024, surpassing his previous high of 31 round-trip homers in 2022. Corey Seager Leads MLB shortstop in home runs (112). He’s more strikeout-prone than some teams might like, but he’s lowered his strikeout rate for four straight seasons now and fanned a quarter of his at-bats last year. That’s still a sizable number, but it’s no longer well above the league average, which is 22.6% in 2024.
The Brewers acquired Adams on the cheap early in the 2021 season when he was struggling with the Rays, sending two unproven relievers to Tampa Bay: JP Feyeleisen and Drew Rasmussen. In the end both sides achieved results. Adams became an All-Star shortstop, and both pitchers became key components of Tampa Bay’s team — especially Rasmussen. He had four straight seasons with an ERA below 3.00, most of which were outside the rotation.
Adams hit .244/.323/.457 in parts of four seasons in Milwaukee. That overall line has been weighed down by an underwhelming 2023 season, but Adames has been at least 9% better than average at the plate in four of the last five years, as measured by wRC+ (in At least 19% above average over the past three years) e). He’s generally rated as an elite defender, though his defensive metrics unexpectedly dropped last year — largely due to an uncharacteristically error-prone July, when he committed eight turnovers in just three weeks.
Teams may still view Adams as a player with strong defensive tools who would be willing to move to another position — third or second base — if the right opportunity presents itself. Adams wasted no time in rejecting Milwaukee’s qualifying offer. He must have been on his toes as a shortstop Trevor Storey ($140MM), Javier Baez ($140MM) and Dansby Swanson ($177MM) Both cashed in on major free-agent deals heading into their own age-29 seasons. Adams’ gregarious personality and reputation as a club leader only further enhances his appeal to the club, with arguably as much, if not more, money-making power than anyone in the group.
Let’s see which teams can get involved.
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