It finally happened. After years of the San Francisco Giants swinging and missing on the biggest names in free agency—the ones that leave a fan base feeling a specific kind of hollow—they actually landed their man. Willy Adames signed with the Giants on a massive seven-year, $182 million deal, and honestly, the vibes in the Bay Area shifted almost instantly.
For a long time, the Giants were the " bridesmaid" of MLB. They were "in" on Aaron Judge. They "almost" had Carlos Correa until the physical fell through. They were a finalist for Shohei Ohtani. But under the new leadership of Buster Posey, who jumped from the legendary catcher spot to President of Baseball Operations, the team stopped playing the "we tried" game. They went out and paid the premium to stabilize a position that has been a revolving door since Brandon Crawford’s prime ended.
The Financials: Why $182 Million Matters
The numbers on this thing are pretty wild when you look at Giants' history. At $182 million, this is the largest contract the franchise has ever handed out. It even surpasses the $167 million deal Posey himself signed back in 2013. Basically, the student has become the master of the checkbook.
The structure is interesting, too. Adames gets a $22 million signing bonus right out of the gate. For the first two years of the deal, his base salary is actually a bit lower—around $10 million—before it jumps to $28 million annually for the final five years. There are no deferrals here. Unlike the Dodgers’ "pay you in 2040" strategy, the Giants are paying real money in real-time.
- Contract Length: 7 Years (thru 2031)
- Total Value: $182,000,000
- Special Clauses: Full No-Trade Clause
- Free Agency: 2032
You've gotta wonder if this is the start of a trend for Posey. He isn't just looking for efficiency; he's looking for "dudes." That’s a term scouts use for guys who change the energy of a clubhouse. Adames, known for his "tiger" energy and constant chatter, is exactly that.
Is He Worth the Risk?
Let's be real for a second. Adames isn't perfect. If you look at his 2025 season—his first in the orange and black—it was a bit of a rollercoaster. He started the year hitting under .200 for the first two months. Social media was already calling him a "free-agency flop."
But then June hit.
📖 Related: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
Willy Adames reminded everyone why the Giants backed up the Brinks truck. He finished the 2025 season with 30 home runs. To put that in perspective, no San Francisco Giant had hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004. Think about that. Twenty years of baseball without a 30-homer hitter until Adames showed up.
However, there’s a catch. Some analysts, including those over at Bleacher Report, are already flagging this contract as a potential "headache" by the year 2028. Adames will be 32 then. Shortstops don’t usually age like fine wine. Their range decreases, their bats slow down, and suddenly you’re paying $28 million a year for a guy who might need to move to second base or even DH.
Defensive Synergy with Matt Chapman
One of the smartest parts of this signing wasn't just Adames' bat; it was who he’s standing next to. The Giants already had Matt Chapman at third base—a guy who collects Gold Gloves like they're Pokemon cards. By putting Adames at short, the Giants created one of the most formidable "left sides" of the infield in the entire National League.
Chapman's massive range actually helps cover some of Adames' defensive inconsistencies. If Willy has a slightly off-day with his lateral movement, Chapman is there to vacuum up the slack. It's a luxury most shortstops don't have.
The NL West Arms Race
You can't talk about Willy Adames signing with the Giants without talking about the Dodgers. It's the elephant in the room. The NL West is basically a high-stakes poker game where everyone is shoving their chips into the middle.
With the Dodgers landing stars like Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez, and the Padres always being aggressive, the Giants couldn't afford to stand pat. Signing Adames was a signal to the fans—and the rest of the league—that San Francisco isn't okay with being a .500 team.
👉 See also: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
Even though the Giants finished 81-81 in 2025, the addition of Adames gave them a power profile they haven't had in decades. He makes the lineup deeper and, frankly, scarier to pitch to. When you have Jung Hoo Lee setting the table and Adames cleaning it up, the offense starts to look like a legitimate threat.
What Most People Get Wrong About Adames
People look at his batting average and get worried. "He hits .240! That's not a superstar!"
Stop. Average doesn't matter as much as it used to.
Adames brings a high walk rate and elite power for a middle infielder. He’s a "run producer." In his final year with the Brewers, he drove in 112 runs. You don't just stumble into 110+ RBIs. You do that by being a clutch hitter who knows how to handle high-leverage situations.
Sure, he strikes out. Probably more than you’d like. But in the modern game, teams will trade 170 strikeouts for 30 home runs and 100 RBIs every single day of the week.
The Buster Posey Factor
This deal is as much about Buster Posey as it is about Willy Adames. This was Buster's first big "stamp" on the organization. He wanted a player who reflected his own competitive nature but brought a different kind of loud leadership.
✨ Don't miss: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
Adames is a clubhouse floor-raiser. He’s the guy screaming in the dugout after a big hit. He’s the guy stayin' late to work with the younger players like Bryce Eldridge or Tyler Fitzgerald. For a Giants team that felt a little "quiet" for a few years, Adames is the volume knob being turned up to ten.
What Happens Next?
If you're a Giants fan or just a baseball nut following the saga, the next few seasons are going to be fascinating. The team is clearly in a "win-now" window, even if the roster still has some holes in the rotation.
The success of the Willy Adames signing will ultimately be judged by whether or not it leads to October baseball. He has a bit of a postseason slump to overcome—he hasn't hit a playoff homer in his last 30 games—but the Giants are betting that his regular-season production will get them to the dance often enough to eventually break through.
Key things to watch for in 2026:
- The Strikeout Rate: Does it stay manageable, or does it spike as he enters his 30s?
- Defensive Metrics: Keep an eye on his OAA (Outs Above Average). If it drops significantly, a position change might be on the horizon sooner than 2028.
- Clubhouse Impact: Watch how the younger prospects respond to his presence. Adames is a natural mentor, and that's worth a lot of "invisible" value.
The Giants finally got their guy. It cost a fortune, and it carries plenty of risk, but for the first time in a long time, there’s a genuine star shortstop at Oracle Park.
To keep track of how this move affects the Giants' standing in the NL West, check out the updated MLB Power Rankings or follow the daily box scores on Baseball-Reference. If you're looking to dive deeper into the advanced analytics of why the Giants paid this much, take a look at Adames' Statcast page on Baseball Savant.