Trade Talks Surrounding Milwaukee Brewers Shortstop Willy Adames Dying Down, Per Report

Willy Adames' future has been in question all offseason long, but he is reportedly expected to stay with the Milwaukee Brewers to open the 2024 season.

Trade talks surrounding Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames have started to fizzle out, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday.

Adames has been tossed out as a potential trade target since October, when the NL Central champion Brewers were unable to advance past the Wild Card Series. Questions swirled around Milwaukee's overall direction when longtime manager Craig Counsell left to take over the Chicago Cubs, and Adames was expected to attract interest from other teams in the wake of that move.

But according to Morosi, trade talks on Adames are quiet, and interested teams expect him to open the season in Milwaukee.

The Brewers recently avoided arbitration with Adames, awarding him a $12.25 million salary for 2024. The 28-year-old is due to become a free agent next winter.

Hot Stove note:

I'm told Brewers trade talks on Willy Adames are quiet.

Interested teams believe he is likely to remain with Milwaukee, at least to begin the season.@MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 23, 2024

Adames got his start with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, taking over as the team's full-time starting shortstop in June of his rookie year. He remained in that role for the next two-plus seasons, displaying power at the plate while flashing leather in the field.

The Brewers initially acquired Adames in May of 2021, sending pitchers J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen to the Rays to secure the infielder. Adames exploded upon his arrival in Milwaukee, batting .285 with an .886 OPS the rest of the season en route to a 16th place finish in NL MVP voting.

Adames' efficiency at the plate dipped following that surge, but he still slugged 55 home runs over the next two seasons.

For his career, Adames averages 27 home runs, 31 doubles, 81 RBI and a 4.2 WAR per 162 games. Adames is a .247 career hitter with a .759 OPS in nearly 3,000 plate appearances.

Adames hit a career-worst .217 with a career-low .717 OPS in 2023, but he still managed to put up 24 home runs, 80 RBI, eight defensive runs saved and a 3.0 WAR.

The Brewers do not appear to have a clear in-house replacement for Adames at the moment. They claimed Vinny Capra off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in November, right before they signed former Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Yonny Hernández to a minor league deal.

As for Milwaukee's farm system, MLB Pipeline does not project their No. 9 or No. 11 prospects – Cooper Pratt and Eric Bitonti – to be ready for the big leagues until 2027. 2022 first round pick Eric Brown Jr., who ranks No. 10 in the Brewers' system, has been given an MLB ETA of 2025.

Andruw Monasterio would likely slide over to shortstop if Milwaukee was to trade Adames at any point in 2024. He played spent most of his time at third and second base during his rookie year in 2023, but just over half of his minor league innings came at short.

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