How the Giants signing Willy Adames could impact Yankees

One of the most sought-after free-agent infielders on the market has found a home before the MLB winter meetings kick off next week in Dallas, and the move could have a ripple effect across the league.

On Saturday, the San Francisco Giants reportedly inked shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal, the largest contract handed out in franchise history. Ironically, the Adames contract edges out the one handed to catcher Buster Posey in 2013 for nine years and $167 million. Posey is now San Francisco's president of baseball operations and is heavily involved in the contract details that brought Adames to the Giants.

With Adames, San Francisco now has a star-studded left side of the infield as he joins Gold Glove-winning third baseman Matt Chapman to not only solidify San Francisco's lineup but also shore up the defense as well.

The move also gives San Francisco its shortstop for the near future, something the Giants searched for in 2024 as Brandon Crawford moved on in free agency after 13 years at the position.

In seven MLB seasons (including three-plus years each spent with the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers), Adames has posted a career slash line of .248/.322/.444 with an OPS+ of 109. He finished 10th in last year's National League MVP balloting after pacing the Brewers to the NL Central title with a .251/.331/.462 slash line and OPS+ of 118 while hitting a career-high 32 home runs and driving in a career-high 112.

Now that Adames is off the board, it could put more pressure on other MLB teams to land other big-name free agents to boost their lineups, including outfielder Juan Soto. The New York Yankees, who traded for Soto last offseason and have been courting him to stay in the Bronx long-term this winter, have repeatedly been linked to Adames as a "Plan B" candidate should they not be able to sign Soto.

With Adames in San Francisco, the pressure could be on for the Yankees to now land Soto, a player who has also been linked to the New York Mets and a potential $700 million contract if he were to come to Queens. The Mets have been signing pitchers this offseason, inking Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas as a way to potentially boost the rotation, but the Mets still have other issues to figure out, even if they land Soto.

After previous offseasons where pursuits of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani didn't go San Francisco's way, the Giants finally found their target in Adames. How other MLB front offices react to that news, especially with Soto on the table after a season with the Yankees, will be very interesting to watch.