The Giants’ deadline chatter around their big contracts never felt like it was headed for a quick resolution, and that may be even more true once the offseason arrives. The club was in seller mode this summer, and multiple reports indicated it was willing to talk about Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers. A trade never looked especially close, though, and the reasons were obvious: long-term money and uneven production.
Chapman, Adames and Devers are all tied to hefty deals that make midseason movement a real challenge. Chapman is owed $100MM from 2027 to 2030.
Adames will make $140MM from 2027 to 2031. Devers is set for $211MM from 2027 through 2033, with $7.5MM deferred annually.
That kind of commitment is hard for most clubs to absorb in July, when payroll flexibility is usually tighter and teams are more cautious about adding future obligations.
The on-field side didn’t help much either. All three got off to poor starts this season, which limited the market even further.
Still, if the Giants want to create more long-term payroll room, winter could be the time to revisit the conversation. Clubs are more likely to have payroll space available then, which could open the door a bit wider than it was during the season.
Even so, Chapman and Adames would be difficult cases. Both have full no-trade protection, and neither is headed into the offseason with much momentum.
Chapman is 33, had a subpar season at the plate in 2026 and is recovering from hernia/core surgery. Adames is about to turn 31, has dealt with back problems and is hitting .229/.288/.416 on the year.
Devers is the one who stands out as the most realistic possibility. He’s the youngest of the three at 29, turning 30 in October, and his contract does not include no-trade protection. After an ice-cold start, he has gotten back to his old self.
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Giants Are Stuck With A Growing Willy Adames Problem
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For San Francisco, the real problem is that the path out is not obvious. The club does not have a clear alternative waiting to take over at short, which leaves it in the uneasy position of weighing Adames overall value against the mistakes piling up behind him. With the contract already on the books and the roster options thin, the Giants may have no choice but to keep riding it out and hope the defense settles down. [Read more 🡒]