The San Francisco Giants have never been shy about opening the checkbook when they believe a player can move the needle. That aggressive mindset was on full display when they signed shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal last offseason.
Year one? Solid.
He gave them what they needed-stability at short, some pop at the plate, and a veteran presence in a clubhouse looking to re-establish itself in a deep NL West.
But here’s the thing with long-term deals: they’re not judged by the first year. They’re judged by the back half-when the production doesn’t always match the paycheck.
That’s the concern some analysts have when looking at Adames’ future in San Francisco. He’s been a notoriously slow starter throughout his career, with his best offensive work often coming in the summer months.
That trend has worked for him so far, but it begs the question: can a player who’s never been an All-Star continue to carry that second-half surge into his mid-30s? And more importantly, will that regular-season spark ever translate to October?
Because right now, the postseason resume is underwhelming. Adames hasn’t hit a home run in his last 30 playoff games.
His slash line in that stretch-.196/.310/.258-paints the picture of a player who hasn’t yet found his stride when the lights are brightest. For a Giants team that expects to contend, that’s a number that needs to change.
Then there’s the defensive side of the equation. Adames did manage to rebound defensively after a rough final year in Milwaukee, but he’s never been in the Gold Glove conversation.
And if that glove starts to slip again, things could get complicated. Especially if the Giants’ long-term roster takes shape the way it’s trending-with Bryce Eldridge potentially locking down first base and Rafael Devers handling DH duties.
That doesn’t leave many places to stash a shortstop whose defense is declining.
Still, this is the cost of doing business in today’s MLB. The Giants wanted to compete, and they knew they had to spend to do it.
Adames brought a proven track record, leadership, and a consistent bat-at a premium position, no less. That’s not easy to find, and the Giants made the call to lock him in for the long haul.
The risk is real, no doubt. But San Francisco is betting that the next few seasons will justify the investment before the later years of the deal become a tougher pill to swallow. If Adames can keep delivering in the regular season-and finally bring that production into October-this contract might age better than some expect.
