Free agent Willy Adames is going to be a highly coveted player this winter. He is the best available shortstop and is coming off of a career season that consisted of more than 30 home runs and 100 RBI.

The Milwaukee Brewers have unsurprisingly extended a qualifying offer to him, but it is expected that he will turn down this offer and sign a long term deal that will be in a price range higher than what the Brew Crew is willing to pay.

What is the qualifying offer? 

In baseball, teams can extend qualifying offers to select free agents.  A qualifying offer is a one year deal that is set at a designated value (the average salary of the top 125 highest paid MLB players).  This year the qualifying offer is worth $21.05 million.

Unsurprisingly, Milwaukee has extended a qualifying offer to Willy Adames. The deadline for players to accept or reject qualifying offers is November 19.  If he doesn’t accept it and signs elsewhere the Brewers will receive draft pick compensation in return.

Willy Adames said that he is willing to stay with the Milwaukee Brewers for less money

It is expected that Willy Adames will sign a deal this off-season anywhere in the $150-$200+ million range.  In a piece written at The Athletic by Will Sammon and Katie Woo (subscription required), Willy Adames indicated that he is willing to stay with the Milwaukee Brewers for less money, but that he also wants what is fair and deserved for all his career accomplishments.

“I’m willing to stay here for less money, lets say, but I just want to be fair for what I deserve in my career and whatever I’ve done.  We just have to wait and see where we’re at.  You never know what’s going to happen and you never know who is going to be willing to make that commitment with me for a long time.”

What is the likelihood that Willy Adames takes a hometown discount to stay with the Brewers?

Willy Adames’ comments are nice to hear, but he also made it clear that he wants what is deserved of him and that he is seeking a long term deal.  In order for Adames to take a hometown discount the Brewers offer will have to be in the same ballpark as what other big markets are willing to pay.  The odds of that scenario occurring is not likely.