The San Francisco Giants have finally found their big fish in shortstop Willy Adames, signing him to a seven-year deal for $182 million, making it the largest in franchise history. The contract tops that of new president of baseball operations Buster Posey.
However, the Giants’ pursuit of Adames came at the cost of a failed 13-year, $350 million deal with Carlos Correa two years ago, which fell through due to concerns over his medicals. The Twins are reportedly open to trading the 30-year-old Correa, with four years left on his contract, despite his impressive 2023 season, which earned him an All-Star nod.
In a debate between two MLB writers, Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar, they discussed whether they would rather have Adames or Correa for the next five years. Kavner argued that while Adames has a higher durability and home run ability, Correa’s greater upside and potential MVP production makes him the better choice. Adames, on the other hand, has a more consistent above-average performance, but is capped by his high strikeout and whiff rates, which limit his offensive ceiling.
Thosar disagreed, citing Adames’ greater durability and dependability, as well as his ability to stay healthy. She noted that the Giants’ new front office, led by Posey, values players who can be counted on, and Adames’ record of playing in at least 139 games over the past four seasons makes him a good fit. Thosar believes that Adames’ .321 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, and .827 OPS at Oracle Park, as well as his leadership, make him a more attractive option. Correa’s injury history and uncertainty about his future production raises concerns.