This winter, the San Francisco Giants added numerous new players to their roster. However, with Opening Day approaching, it remains to be seen what sort of production Marco Luciano will provide at shortstop. Acquiring Willy Adames from the Milwaukee Brewers would provide some stability (and power) to the position.
On February 26, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report published predictions for where baseball’s most desirable trade targets would end the upcoming season. He expected Adames to sign with the Giants by the trade deadline.
“The Giants are hopeful that rookie Marco Luciano is ready for the full-time gig, but he has neither been particularly healthy—and is already dealing with a hamstring issue this spring—nor all that productive over the past two seasons (mostly in the minors) and may well be the weakest link in their quest for a wild-card spot in the NL West,” he wrote. “That makes the Giants our official pick here.”
Luciano hit.223/.334/.442 in 74 minor-league games in 2023, ranging from Double-A to Triple-A. He also appeared in 18 winter league games, finishing with an OPS of.594. Adames has emerged as one of the game’s most reliable power threats at shortstop. He’s hit 20 or more home runs four times since 2019, including each of the last three seasons. His most powerful campaign was with Milwaukee in 2022. The right-handed hitter slugged 31 home runs and 98 RBIs.
Brewers Might Prefer a Midseason Adames Trade
Adames was considered an offseason trade candidate at the start of the winter. He’ll get just $12.25 million in 2024 and will be a free agent at the end of the season. If the Brewers do not intend to re-sign him, it makes sense to put him on the trade block.
But when they signed first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a two-year, $34 million contract, it appeared that they were serious about protecting their National League Central division championship. That changed when Milwaukee traded starting pitcher and staff ace Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles.
Following the transaction, the Brewers indicated to teams that Adames was available at the right price. Acquiring Joey Ortiz in the Burnes transaction appeared to make their current shortstop more expendable than previously. However, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale did not make it appear as if Milwaukee was in a hurry to complete things. “They could also trade Adames at the deadline or simply let him walk as a free agent next winter,” he noted on the 4th of February.
The Giants Could Use All the Power They Can Get
The Giants could use more power in their lineup. San Francisco hasn’t had a player hit 30 or more home runs in a single season since outfielder Barry Bonds in 2004. He hit 45 home runs during his final MVP Award campaign.
Before signing outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler to a three-year deal, they were the only MLB team without a player projected by ZiPS to hit 20 or more home runs in 2024. Soler solved that, as the Bay is projecting him to hit 23 runs.
Adames is expected to score 28 home runs and 89 RBI over 149 games in 2024. According to Statcast’s ballpark factors, his power numbers would decrease if he moved from American Family Field in Milwaukee to Oracle Park in San Francisco. However, adding Adames to the offensive mix would provide the Giants with a proven commodity at a high-value position.
