Brewers Unlikely To Re-sign Willy Adames: "There’s A Lot Deeper Pockets Out There"

[Brock Beauchamp]

It shouldn't be surprising to anyone familiar with the baseball financial landscape, particularly with the chaos of the Bally Sports bankruptcy proceedings, but it still hurts for fans to hear that one of their favorite players is likely to leave town after completion of the 2024 season.

Brewers majority owner Mark Attanasio, speaking to the media during the Brewers' postseason, and reported by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Quote

“He’s going to get an enormous free-agent contract and I’m very happy for him and his family, and we’ll give it our best shot,” Attanasio said. “But there’s a lot deeper pockets out there. That’s just the reality.”

Adames, 29 years old, will pursue a nine-figure deal this offseason, likely for five years or more. He had a nice bounce back season in 2024, posting a 119 wRC+ but has slid backwards defensively, posting a -16 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) after being a plus-defender in 2023 with a +8 DRS.

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[DR28]

I'm ok with it as long as we sign a power hitter to play 3B.... Really excited to watch Ortiz and Turang up the middle next season!

[nate82]

8 minutes ago, DR28 said:

I'm ok with it as long as we sign a power hitter to play 3B.... Really excited to watch Ortiz and Turang up the middle next season!

3B is a black hole in FA.  The best option is Bregman and it would be better to pay Adames over Bregman. 

This is the 2025 FA for 3B:

There really isn't anyone interesting at all.  The best option would probably be a trade with the Dbacks for Suarez.  But I think the Dbacks would be looking for starting pitching in return in that deal. 

[Brewcrew82]

I think the best option to fill the Adames void in the infield is to explore a Bo Bichette trade with the Blue Jays. You gotta like his chances for a rebound heading into free agency and he'd serve as a nice bridge to Boeve/Wilken. Prospect cost won't be exorbitant given how much he's due to earn in arbitration. 

[Team Canada]

No matter how much we love Willy, we don't want him playing shortstop for the next 5-7 years if this season is any indication of how it's going to go, although I wonder if he'll end up sliding to 3rd. With his arm he'd still be a weapon and wouldn't have to worry as much about decreasing range.

[Redd Vencher]

36 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I think the best option to fill the Adames void in the infield is to explore a Bo Bichette trade with the Blue Jays. You gotta like his chances for a rebound heading into free agency and he'd serve as a nice bridge to Boeve/Wilken. Prospect cost won't be exorbitant given how much he's due to earn in arbitration. 

 Blue Jays are going to want 1 top 100 talent to move Bichette. Brewers shouldn't be moving that type of talent for rentals.

[Brewcrew82]

1 minute ago, Redd Vencher said:

 Blue Jays are going to want 1 top 100 talent to move Bichette. Brewers shouldn't be moving that type of talent for rentals.

I mean they can ask for it but I don't think they're guaranteed to get it given Bichette's salary vs. his production this season. BTV, which is admittedly not perfect, has him with negative value. I think negative value is a bit low as it undersells his previous years' production, but this year is going to eat at a good chunk of his value which is limited to begin with as a one year rental. 

Also depends on the prospect. If the cost was Tyler Black, for example, I'd be fine giving that up. 

[TURBO]

The reality of the situation is this:

We need to add a bat to this line-up based on 2024.

Now we need to add two bats, one to replace Adames, and one to just plain add.

We'll have Yelich back, but that doesn't count. We need to add another 2 bats to Yelich, Chourio, and Contreras,

Where we add those bats and who they will be is for the front office to figure out, but it has to be legit candidates, not wish and a prayer type players.

On top of that, we have to improve the starting rotation, so I'm not sure all of it can or will all be addressed this off season.

[tmwiese55]

9 minutes ago, TURBO said:

The reality of the situation is this:

We need to add a bat to this line-up based on 2024.

Now we need to add two bats, one to replace Adames, and one to just plain add.

We'll have Yelich back, but that doesn't count. We need to add another 2 bats to Yelich, Chourio, and Contreras,

Where we add those bats and who they will be is for the front office to figure out, but it has to be legit candidates, not wish and a prayer type players.

On top of that, we have to improve the starting rotation, so I'm not sure all of it can or will all be addressed this off season.

Generally fair and all.    But I'd say there is a logic in one being 'good enough' all things considered with our budgets. Essentially one to replace a big chunk of what Adames did this year, though unlikely all of it.   The the '2nd' along with covering the rest of Adames is helped by Chourio being good all year rather than awful for 2 months, Mitchell if healthy should be noticeably better than the OFs we've played this year, hopefully 120 games instead of 70 from yelich, Hoskins year 2 improvement after injury like a Winker did this year, general slight improvements from Ortiz and Turang, Black should be at least slightly better than Bauers.

OF course not all those will happen but several of them should put a dent in covering the rest of Adames along with wanting more or a '2nd' guy like you said.   But yea of course getting an IF to replace Adames and one more legit known hitter for the OF/DH/1B rotation I'm not gonna complain either.

[sveumrules]

4 minutes ago, TURBO said:

On top of that, we have to improve the starting rotation, so I'm not sure all of it can or will all be addressed this off season.

Peralta, Myers, Rea, Civale will all be back.

Woodruff and Gasser coming off injury.

Front office could still view Hall or Ashby as rotation options next year.

Misio, Logan Henderson, KC Hunt, Shane Smith, Chad Patrick, Carlos Rodriguez at AAA.

I'm sure they'll add some more depth options around the edges, but I don't really foresee any big payroll type additions to the staff.

[Redd Vencher]

47 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I mean they can ask for it but I don't think they're guaranteed to get it given Bichette's salary vs. his production this season. BTV, which is admittedly not perfect, has him with negative value. I think negative value is a bit low as it undersells his previous years' production, but this year is going to eat at a good chunk of his value which is limited to begin with as a one year rental. 

Also depends on the prospect. If the cost was Tyler Black, for example, I'd be fine giving that up. 

Yeah BTV isn't living in reality on this one. I would not give up Tyler Black for a 1 year rental.

[Redd Vencher]

33 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Peralta, Myers, Rea, Civale will all be back.

Woodruff and Gasser coming off injury.

Front office could still view Hall or Ashby as rotation options next year.

Misio, Logan Henderson, KC Hunt, Shane Smith, Chad Patrick, Carlos Rodriguez at AAA.

I'm sure they'll add some more depth options around the edges, but I don't really foresee any big payroll type additions to the staff.

They've got a ton of SP depth, and a pretty good 40 Man roster crunch coming this offseason. They're dedinitely going to focus on minor league rotation depth over a guaranteed 40 man roster spot if they add SP.

I'd also add Coleman Crow to the AAA rotation depth next year, especially if he performs well in the Fall League.

[Harold Hutchison]

It's quite possible the solution could be in-house for the Brewers.

Bats from the starting lineup likely to leave as free agents:

Willy Adames (Shortstop)

Gary Sanchez (DH)

Bats the Crew could trade or who may opt-out:

Rhys Hoskins (1B)

Potential Lineup Bat moved to bench:

Sal Frelick (RF)

Figure the Brewers move Ortiz to short to replace Adames. That opens up third base. Tyler Black and Oliver Dunn could be options, with Andruw Monasterio also having been a decent starter in 2023. It would be best for the Brewers if Black took the job at the hot corner.

Yelich replaces Sanchez as primary DH, Garrett Mitchell in for Sal Frelick in RF.

The question is, does Hoskins opt out, does he get dealt in a Jackie Bradley Jr.-type deal (say with Eric Brown Jr., or does he stay?

Of course, there could be a miracle, and the Crew could secure an extension with Adames... in which case, one way to pay for it would be to deal Hoskins for a DSL/ACL/GCL lottery ticket or two, and try to replicate the luck of the Adam Lind trade.

[LouisEly]

23 hours ago, nate82 said:

The best option would probably be a trade with the Dbacks for Suarez. 

No way, Suarez strikes out way too much for the Brewers taste.

Best option is for the Brewers to go back to the Orioles.  They need to make room for Holliday, leaving Westburg and Urias for one spot.

Urias is the cheaper option.  He's under control for two more seasons and was a 1 fWAR/1.5 bWAR player in only 300 PA's last year.  Struck out less than 20% of the time last season, average walk rate, average defensively.

But the Orioles need a closer.  Devin Williams headlining a package for Westburg is the best option..

[nate82]

9 hours ago, LouisEly said:

No way, Suarez strikes out way too much for the Brewers taste.

I just think he is the most reasonable player that the Brewers could get in a trade.  I don't think Westburg would be attainable for the Brewers without paying a higher premium. 

Suarez should become available as the Dbacks have a good young 3B coming up who is absolutely ready for MLB. 

[Redd Vencher]

11 hours ago, LouisEly said:

No way, Suarez strikes out way too much for the Brewers taste.

Best option is for the Brewers to go back to the Orioles.  They need to make room for Holliday, leaving Westburg and Urias for one spot.

Urias is the cheaper option.  He's under control for two more seasons and was a 1 fWAR/1.5 bWAR player in only 300 PA's last year.  Struck out less than 20% of the time last season, average walk rate, average defensively.

But the Orioles need a closer.  Devin Williams headlining a package for Westburg is the best option..

Devin Williams isn't headlining a package for Jordan Westburg, though.

[TURBO]

11 hours ago, LouisEly said:

But the Orioles need a closer.  Devin Williams headlining a package for Westburg is the best option..

The Orioles DO NOT need a closer.  Felix Bautista will be back for them.

[wallus]

Willy is an 80 grade teammate and person but his defense falling off a cliff is alarming. The eye test matches the stats on this as well.

[brewmann04]

I agree the crew need to find a legit 3rd baseman 

[AKCheesehead]

On 10/3/2024 at 6:40 AM, nate82 said:

3B is a black hole in FA.  The best option is Bregman and it would be better to pay Adames over Bregman. 

This is the 2025 FA for 3B:

There really isn't anyone interesting at all.  The best option would probably be a trade with the Dbacks for Suarez.  But I think the Dbacks would be looking for starting pitching in return in that deal. 

I'm curious whether there's any possibility of the Brewers re-exploring the possibility of Frelick at 3B. I'm on neither side of that fence as I have no clue how viable he is at the position.  But if he CAN play it well in 2025 that would potentially solve some things.

[markedman5]

Heyman said today that the Dodgers will pursue Adames

[TURBO]

2 hours ago, markedman5 said:

Heyman said today that the Dodgers will pursue Adames

...and water is wet.

I'll be shocked if Adames isn't in Dodger blue next season.  If that is the case, I hope he drains them dry!

[Team Canada]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

I hope he drains them dry!

Not actually possible.