Sunday, December 8, 2024

Hot Stove League Update: Buster Posey Gets It Done!

Doc, for the fun of it give me your 3 player signing/acquistions the Giants will make this week. I know i kind of asking you to give me the numbers I use to make when I purchase a lottery ticket, but I respect your views. That said I would be happy with Adames and anything after that > but again your top 3.

Richard in 

DrBGiantsfanDecember 7, 2024 at 8:16 AM

As you say, almost anything is possible but OK, let's see if we can break it down. I am going make two assumptions: 1. When Buster speaks, and he is a man of few words, he tells the truth. 2. Buster really really wants to start his tenure as POBO with an improved team. Here's where I'll go with that:

1. Willy Adames SS. Buster said he's going to go get a shortstop. There is really only one significant upgrade at shortstop available, Willy Adames. I think Buster is going to make an all-out effort to sign him.

2. Paul Goldschmidt 1B. First Base is the other position clearly in need of an upgrade but it's also Bryce Eldridge's position and Buster does not want to block Eldridge. Just a guess but I'll say I think there is a lot of mutual respect between Buster and Goldy.

3. Cal Quantrill RHP. I think J. T. Snow sent the signal when he went on the radio and said he would not bring Snell back and instead would bring in a couple of innings eating starting pitchers. Quantrill is affordable, gives you innings and his numbers should look a lot better with home games in Oracle Park instead of Coors Field.


I am not much for predictions when it comes to free agent signings or trades, but yesterday morning Richard in Winnepeg asked point blank and for some reason I was in a mood.  Just a few hours later Buster Posey made me look like a prophet as the news broke the Giants agreed to terms with Willy Adames on a 7 yr/$182 M contract.  The only detail we know is the agreement includes a $22 M signing bonus.

And what a statement from Buster Posey!  After years of mostly empty promises from FZ, Buster stated a goal at the beginning of the Hot Stove League season and achieved that goal with laser-like precision.  When he stated his goal was to go get a shortstop the there was only one clear upgrade on the market, Willy Adames, and many teams with records of more success in signing free agents were in the shortstop market.  It appeared Buster would have to rely on personal connections with Manager Bob Melvin and Jung Hoo Lee to sign Ha Seong Kim.  Now, a healthy Kim would also be an upgrade but he is coming off surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder with no guarantee he will play at all in 2025 or ever play shortstop again.  To me, it was Adames or bust.  It was Adames!

In Willy Adames, the Giants get a player who not only plays a premium defensive position but is an excellent all-around hitter who brings both gap and home run power to the plate and can hit in the middle of most any MLB lineup.  There is a small concern he is inexplicably coming off a down year in his defensive metrics but those metrics tend to have a lot of variance from season to season and he still graded out as a positive defender when it came to calculating fWAR and the bat is good enough to be an asset even with diminished defense.  Perhaps the best part of this contract is Adames just turned 29 years old in September which means his likely peak seasons will cover most of the 7-year contract which will conclude after his age 35 season.

This signing is great news for Giants fans and a huge accomplishment for Buster Posey.  Hey!  Maybe he will be the Jerry West of baseball executives!  

13 comments:

  1. Well There you go Doc! It is 7 A.M.in Winnipeg >I just feed the pets > ,made myself a cup of tea > checked the weather and we here in Winnipeg are in for a heavy snowfall over the next 24 hours > I came next to your blog > and now it is Sunny with a strong hint of a potential winning season > way to go Buster!

    Richard in Winnipeg

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  2. The deal that HAD to be made.
    Spectacular 1st move by Buster.

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  3. Good day for Gmen. We have holes in the farm at 3b and SS, and now we have those covered. We lose a high round but those are rolls of dice. We have OF, 1b and pitching depth, and Fitz / Bailey are young too. This to me was our Achilles heel. Would love to get the Japanese pitcher and maybe a bat for OF but our SPs are not bad (if young) and we have prospects for the one corner. This feels like a huge pivot.

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  4. I hoped for Adames, Snell and Bieber so Buster got at least one and now needs to work on SP

    Willy has been consistently good throughout his major league career without ever being outstanding but I think outside of Soto was the guy SF really needed to get.

    I’m with you a huge get for Buster

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  5. I like this signing since the Giants needed to come away with a SS and Adames was the best available. Brewers manager called him a leader who loves to play in clutch situations. I like how Buster has consulted with Matt Chapman on how several players would fit the team. He seems to be evaluating more then just each players stats. Way to go Buster! I'm excited!

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  6. Well done Buster and well done Doc on your predictions. If you look at Adames' 2023 season he started slowly and then was struck by a foul ball while standing on the dugout steps on May 27th. He was put on the 10-day IL with a concussion before returning. My hypothesis is that it took the wind out of sails for much of that year. I was a believer last year and drafted him at a discount in my fantasy league* which paid off for me. Anyone who has had a concussion, as I have had, knows how devastating even a mild one can be. I look for him to be productive for the majority of this contract if not all. This first signing gives me hope for the Giants. Keep it going! *(Apologies for fantasy reference).

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  7. You nailed it Doc! As for Prediction #2, signing Goldschmidt is both plausible and possible. And if the Giants actually do sign him and then Quantrill you should start offering fortune telling services and the road to your house is going to look like that final scene in Field of Dreams!

    I think the Giants should still go after Ha-Seong Kim. His price is never going to be lower and with his versatility and Fitzgerald's ability to play multiple positions the Giants will have the ability to keep multiple players fresher as well as have insurance for injuries.

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  8. This was the move I think most of us wanted and if we could only get one guy this offseason it was Adames. He fills so many needs for us and is a bargain in this market. I don’t think Buster is done yet and wouldn’t be surprised if he were to make a trade for another bat like Bellinger to really round out our lineup. I would also be fine with Santander who bats switch and could play 1B and then OF or DH once Eldridge comes up. We have a lot of interesting inhouse options for the rotation and pen so they can develop them or trade some for another bat or two. Great first move Buster can’t wait to see whats next!

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  9. Great, great move by Buster and the official start of the Buster Era..Adames has everything..Power, Fielding, hit for Ave, Leader, Durable, a ball player!, and wanted to be here...and , really, not bad length/cost contact.. Best move Boster could have made...I was scared %$#*less by the rumors of Kim and how everybody seemed to like that mov...Damn am I relieved.

    As Doc and others have pointed out, still need a SP (I still wouldn't minf BURRES to go with WEBB for a two headed consistent monster, a 1B and, in my opinion, improvement in the OF..But, Admes and a SP gives them a ot of piecesthey can trade!

    Looking forward to the next week for the first time in awhile.

    SteveVA

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  10. Besides RF and 1B we have a good idea who the starters will be. And we have adequate players for those two. I would not mind if the Giants don't sign anyone else, assuming the starters are recovering well from their injuries. Giants can now wait for a gppd deal, instead of chasing one.

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    1. I would be ok with no more moves but would prefer they try to get one more bat for the positions you mentioned. Bellinger and Naylor are available and either would make this lineup look a lot better

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  11. Mets are signing Soto and Dodgers are giving Conforto $17 million for one season … hopefully this is going to be a fun week as more dominos fall, including some to the Giants. It’d be nice to move Murphy’s contract, too … although if he can stay healthy, he could provide some support for Bailey behind the plate.

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  12. Great signing but another high K% batter like Chapman, Ramos, yty, Bailey, Fitzgerald. Makes sense for roster to be rounded out with some who can more reliably get bar on ball, so keep/promote Wade, Flores, Matos, Meckler? Plus Schmidt, Murphy, and lowK% Kim adds up to 13 -- I feel that could be fine opening day roster standing pat from here on non-Ps

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