Giants' Updated Lineup, Payroll for 2025 Roster After $182M Willy Adames Contract
December 7, 2024
The San Francisco Giants have agreed to a seven-year, $182 million contract with former Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames (pending a physical), per ESPN's Jeff Passan. It is the largest contract doled out in franchise history.
With the move, the Giants are projected to have an estimated $180 million payroll, per FanGraphs' Roster Resource.
Here's a look at how the batting order could shake out with Adames joining the fray.
Potential Batting Order
1. CF Jung Hoo Lee
2. DH Heliot Ramos
3. 1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
4. SS Willy Adames
5. 3B Matt Chapman
6. RF Mike Yastrzemski
7. C Patrick Bailey
8. 2B Tyler Fitzgerald
9. LF Grant McCray
Adames, 29, just amassed career-highs with 32 homers, 112 RBI and 21 stolen bases for the NL Central-winning Brewers. He was one of the biggest names on the free agent market and the top shortstop, so it's no surprise that the Giants were after him.
San Francisco president of baseball operations Buster Posey made it no secret that the team was looking for a shortstop at the General Managers Meetings last November, while also noting that the team could move utilityman Tyler Fitzgerald to second.
"If we could find a shortstop, that'd be great," Posey said, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "I think Tyler Fitzgerald did a great job at short last year. I think he has value in multiple spots on the field. I do think it's hard to play multiple spots at the same time during the season. Whether he'd be better suited to play second base long term is a discussion we're having."
The Giants did find that shortstop in Adames, which could perhaps bump Fitzgerald to second base.
Rounding out the infield, Matt Chapman, who signed a six-year, $151 million contract extension last September, is entrenched at third. LaMonte Wade is the current first baseman, though top prospect Bryce Eldridge should be getting the call-up to be the long-term solution there. MLB.com currently projects Eldridge to arrive in 2026.
San Francisco is looking to break out of a three-year stretch that's seen the team hang around .500 since a 107-win campaign in 2021. Adames should certainly help in that endeavor as San Francisco adds an important piece to the batting order.
