DALLAS — To Buster Posey, there’s a vibe certain shortstops possess, an aura that other positions on the diamond just don’t have. Posey saw these intangibles in Brandon Crawford. Before Crawford, there was Edgar Renteria. Now, he’ll get to see Willy Adames carry that mantle in San Francisco.
“There’s something about that position in particular – and I would say catcher is up there, too – the way that guys walk on the field, stand on the field, move around. It makes a difference,” Posey said. “(Adames is) one of those guys, and that feels really good.”
The Giants made official their seven-year, $182 million contract with Adames — the largest in franchise history — on the second day of the Winter Meetings at the Hilton Hotel Anatole in Dallas. The deal includes a full no-trade clause as well as no opt outs.
Posey and general manager Zack Minasian couldn’t discuss the deal on the Winter Meetings’ first day since it was not yet finalized, but with the logistics finalized by Tuesday afternoon, Posey didn’t hesitate to wax poetic about his first big acquisition as president of baseball operations.
“This is who we wanted to get,” Posey said. “It’s been really fun to hear the excitement from players, coaching staff. Just the feedback we’ve gotten from people who know him well. I’m just excited about the person. I think our fans are going to latch on to how the guy plays the game. I want the same flair. I don’t want anything different. We need that, we need a little energy and edge and I think he’ll bring that.”
Posey raved about Adames as a player, referencing the 29-year-old’s combination of power and defense. He labeled the newest Giant a “complete ballplayer,” arguing that Adames at short and Matt Chapman at third represent the “best left side in the game, with those two.”
The praise only began with the calculable, the tangible, the quantifiable. Posey said he heard nothing about glowing reviews about Adames, the person, during his inquiries, citing his “willingness to buy into the grit mentality that we want to have.” Pat Murphy, Adames’ manager in Milwaukee last year, provided validity to those sentiments.
“The human being that he is, that’s what makes him great,” Murphy said on Monday. “His attitude that he brings every single day, how he goes about his business, consummate professional. He was a leader in our clubhouse. He did as much for the ballclub as anybody. Played 161 games and would’ve played 162. This kid is special. He deserves everything he gets. I couldn’t be happier.”
With Adames now in the fold and set to be introduced in a news conference Thursday, Posey and general manager Zack Minasian can turn their attention to addressing other parts of the team, namely the starting rotation. Whether that will involve dolling out big money remains ambiguous.
When asked if the Giants could give out another nine-figure contract, Posey responded that the team is “keeping all options open” and that the team has to make decisions for the present and future. With left-hander Max Fried signing an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees, the Giants would likely need to offer Corbin Burnes somewhere in the $250 million range to have a realistic chance at signing him.
Posey was then asked if San Francisco’s payroll could increase. He paused for several long seconds to contemplate his response, ultimately deciding he did not want to comment on the matter.
“I just think it’s better for me, for a lot of different reasons, not to discuss it publicly,” Posey said. “I just think it’ll help me and Zack operate better not discussing that publicly.”
Despite steering away from finance talk, Posey provided his thoughts on Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki. The right-hander was officially posted on Monday and his 45-day window to negotiate began on Tuesday. “The Monster of the Reiwa Era” would instantly elevate San Francisco’s starting rotation, a unit that features plenty of options but plenty of uncertainty.
“Obviously, like probably all the other 29 teams, it would be a dream for us to get this guy. Just tremendous upside. Not too many arms in the world like his,” Posey said. “He’s a tremendous talent. He’s 23 years old. It’s fun to dream on. It’s fun to think about him at Oracle Park and him pitching deep into a game late in the year, the place rocking. We’d be over the moon to add a guy like that.”
Joel Wolfe, Sasaki’s agent, fielded questions for about half-an-hour at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday afternoon. During his time on the dais, Wolfe noted that he’s “not entirely sure yet” what Sasaki will prioritize and said the process will be open-ended. Wolfe shot down rumors of a predetermined deal and expects the meetings with teams to begin next week.
Due to the intricacies of the posting system, Sasaki is only eligible to receive a minor-league contract (plus a signing bonus). The Giants are tied with the Dodgers for the smallest international signing bonus pool ($5,146,200) after signing Chapman and Blake Snell last year, but money will not be a factor in Sasaki’s decision making. With Sasaki slated to make less than a million, every team has the financial capital to sign a nine-figure talent for a six-figure salary.
“My advice to him is don’t make a decision based on that because the long-term arc of your career is where you’re going to earn your money,” Wolfe said. “So it’s probably not advisable to make a short-term decision in that regard.”
