Sad Giants reset button rumors could mean depressing fate for ex-Brewer Willy Adames

It's safe to say the San Francisco Giants' gamble on collegiate manager Tony Vitello isn't paying off in the early going. They sit with a record far below .500 in the second week of May, and are being placed in the same tier of power rankings as the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets. That is not company you want to be a part of in 2026.

What does that have to do with the Milwaukee Brewers? Former franchise shortstop Willy Adames is currently caught in the middle of this mess.

Adames was unlikely to stick around with the Brewers after his impressive 2024 season before hitting free agency, but no one could have foretold how poorly his seven-year, $182 million contract would be aging already. He did muster 4.1 fWAR on the back of 30 home runs and strong defense last season, but he's been an outright disaster this year (64 wRC+, -0.4 fWAR) on one of the league's most disappointing teams.

As the Giants look to blow things up and start fresh, Adames may soon find himself traded for the second time in his career.

Willy Adames facing perpetual limbo with Giants as Brewers just keep on cruising along

For what it's worth, the Brewers are once again receiving some validation for their roster management choices as Adames struggles. There was always limited belief that he'd justify a nine-figure contract in his thirties, though this fall-off is worse than expected.

Perhaps some of that is due to the overall state of the team he plays for. The Giants are completely noncompetitive, and practically none of their well-compensated vets have responded well to Vitello and his new coaching staff. Adames is still a beloved figure in the clubhouse and remains impossibly durable for a shortstop.

Maybe the Giants will be able to recoup some value by trading him while he's still relatively young, but it's difficult to imagine a bevy of suitors lining up to pay $150 million to an aging shortstop ahead of a potential lockout.

Meanwhile, the Brewers used the compensatory pick they got from Adames' qualified-offer free-agent status on teenager Brady Ebel, who is now one of the top 20 prospects in the organization. He hasn't had the easiest of transitions to the pros (.597 OPS in 46 games in Low-A), but he's a toolsy infielder with long-term upside.

Most importantly, of course, the Crew have stayed resoundingly competitive since losing their All-Star shortstop, despite handing the reins of the position over to the offensively inept Joey Ortiz. Following a 97-win campaign a year ago, Milwaukee is right back in the thick of things with a 22-16 record.

Adames surely doesn't regret his decision to accept generational wealth from a legacy franchise, but his current situation is just further proof that the grass isn't always greener outside of AmFam Field.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow