MILWAUKEE – What seemed inevitable became official Saturday: Willy Adames’ tenure with the Brewers was over.
After parts of four seasons in Milwaukee, during which Adames hit 107 home runs and became a fan favorite, the 29-year-old has agreed to a seven-year, $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, a source told Feinsand’s MLB.com’s Mark. The Giants have not confirmed the trade, which is pending a physical examination.
Milwaukee officials, all the way down to principal owner Mark Attanasio, have been candid in recent months that they expect Adames to secure a contract beyond what the brewers consider reasonable for their position, especially since they already have two potential stops in the works for the 26-year-old third baseman Joey Ortiz and 25-year-old second baseman Brice Turang, a Gold Glove Award winner. Ortiz has five years left to control the club and Turang has four years left.
The Brewers made multiple offers for Adames last season and at this year’s trade deadline, but opted to keep him for production – he set career highs with 32 home runs, 112 RBI and 21 stolen bases, starting all but one of the Brewers’ 165 teams during the regular season and postseason, and for his impact on the club, most notably in the case of 20-year-old phenom Jackson Chourio. MLB’s youngest player, Chourio, finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year Award voting after overcoming a leisurely start with support from Adames, catcher William Contreras and others.
Part of that bill was an MLB qualifying offer, which the Brewers extended to Adames (as expected) and which Adames declined (as expected). For this reason, and because he is signing a contract with a modern club worth over $50 million, Milwaukee will be compensated with an additional selection in next year’s draft between the end of the first round and the beginning of Round A of the Balance of the Rivalry.
This means Milwaukee will have two picks in quick succession, just beyond the usual first-round pick. The order of the Competitive Balance rounds has been set this week, and the Brewers have the first pick in Competitive Balance Round A.
“[Adames] and Robin [Yount] “those are probably the two best stops to play here and a valuable part of our history,” Attanasio said in September. “We are grateful for everything he has done here.”
The numbers support Adames’ placement in this exclusive company. His 15.7 FanGraphs WAR ranks second in Brewers history in major league stoppage, behind only Yount (66.5) and just ahead of former All-Star JJ Hardy (11.0).
