Buster Posey has a lot on his plate as he tries to push the Giants toward 2027, and one possible move could reshape the roster in a hurry. The Toronto Blue Jays are looking for infield help, and according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, they have internally discussed a potential trade with San Francisco for Willy Adames.
That kind of conversation makes sense on paper. Adames was brought in with huge expectations, and Posey made him the biggest investment in Giants history. The idea was straightforward: Adames would anchor shortstop after Brandon Crawford and help bridge the gap until the organization’s next wave of shortstops arrived.
The results have been mixed. Adames became the first Giant to hit 30 home runs in a season since Barry Bonds, but his batting average has hovered around .230 and his OPS+ has been about league average.
Injuries have also been part of the story, and his defense has drawn criticism as well. Some fans have even said he’s phoned it in after signing for $182 million.
Still, there’s a baseball case for moving him. Trading Adames would free up money for the Giants to chase better fits, and it would also clear a lineup spot for a bat that has been too ordinary for what San Francisco needs right now. Posey has made it clear he wants to build through the farm system, and that approach has already shown up in the draft and at the trade deadline.
Even if Adames no longer carries the same value he did with the Brewers, the Giants could still land useful prospects from Toronto. That would only add to an already strong farm system. In the short term, San Francisco would need a bridge at shortstop for a year or two, but a deal would open the door for Josuar Gonzalez and Jhonny Level to become real factors in 2028 or 2029.
There are internal options, too. Casey Schmitt was on pace for 30 home runs last season before injuries cut that run short, and while he’s naturally a third baseman, he’s the best defender outside of Matt Chapman and could handle shortstop while keeping his bat in the lineup every day. The Giants also acquired Marcelo Mayer at the deadline, and though many view him as a second baseman, he was drafted by the Red Sox as a shortstop and could fit there alongside Schmitt if he stays healthy.
A move like that would also give the Giants more room to attack the market for elite pitching, which Posey has identified as priority number one this offseason.
But any trade talks come with real obstacles. Adames has a full no-trade clause, and he chose San Francisco for a reason.
He may want to stay put and see this thing through while trying to live up to his status as the highest-paid player in franchise history. His personal life also points west: his girlfriend, Kristin Della Rovere, plays professional hockey for the San Jose Sea Lions of the PWHL, so there’s no obvious pull toward Toronto.
Then there’s the contract itself. Adames is due $28 million a year for the rest of the deal, and if the Blue Jays truly want him, the Giants would likely have to absorb a significant portion of that salary.
Posey has plenty to sort out before the December 1 lockout, and moving his franchise shortstop probably isn’t near the top of the list. But if Toronto is serious about bringing Willy Adames to powder blue, San Francisco at least has a reason to listen.
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