The Giants are betting big on Willy Adames, signing the former Brewers shortstop to a seven-year, $182 million contract. It’s the kind of splash San Francisco’s been trying to make, but Oracle Park’s dimensions could complicate things.
Adames is coming off a strong 2024 campaign where he hit .251/.331/.462 with 30 home runs and 112 RBI. He also swiped 21 bases and posted a solid 3.1 WAR. That’s exactly the kind of production San Francisco’s been missing during their three-year playoff drought.
Here’s where it gets interesting. American Family Field in Milwaukee, where Adames put up those numbers, is a hitter’s dream. Oracle Park? It’s consistently rated as one of the toughest places to hit home runs in baseball.
“When your stadium is the most home run-averse park in the majors, investing heavily in a shortstop whose best attribute is his slugging prowess is certainly a decision,” writes Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report.
The Giants aren’t just paying for Adames’ bat – they’re investing in a complete player. But there’s been some slippage in his defensive metrics. If his glove work continues to trend toward league average, as it did in 2024, that $182 million price tag might start feeling heavy.
That’s not to say this deal is doomed. Adames has shown he can adjust his approach, and the Giants’ coaching staff has a track record of helping players adapt to Oracle Park’s challenges. Plus, the new dimensions installed a few years back have made the park slightly more hitter-friendly than its reputation suggests.
The way I see it, this is the kind of calculated risk a team like the Giants needs to take. They’re trying to climb back into contention in a division with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. Adames gives them an everyday shortstop with pop, something they’ve been missing.
Now we’ll see if Adames can make Oracle Park work for him the way he made American Family Field his personal launching pad.
