As expected, Adames declines qualifying offer

MILWAUKEE -- Willy Adames declined the Brewers’ qualifying offer on Tuesday, freeing the top shortstop on this year’s free-agent market to seek a multiyear contract while positioning Milwaukee to receive a premium pick in next year’s Draft should he sign elsewhere.

Adames’ decision came as no surprise to anyone, since he’s in his prime at age 29 and is No. 9 in Mark Feinsand’s MLB.com ranking of the top free agents available this winter, and No. 6 in MLB.com’s free-agent hitter power rankings. Wherever you rank him, Adames is poised to land a multiyear contract that will far exceed the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer.

This is the first time that Milwaukee has extended a qualifying offer, a one-year contract worth the average of the sport’s top 125 salaries. Adames was one of 13 players who received such an offer, although history suggested all along that the vast majority of them would decline.

With Adames’ decision, the Brewers are in line to gain an additional pick in the 2025 Draft next July. Assuming he signs for more than $50 million, the Brewers would be awarded a pick between the end of the first round and the start of Competitive Balance Round A. Last year, for example, the Twins received the 33rd overall pick as compensation after right-hander Sonny Gray signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Cardinals.

The Brewers could have traded Adames going into 2024, like they did with another prominent player, Corbin Burnes, who was heading into a contract year. But the club opted instead to keep its popular shortstop, who served as a valuable mentor to 20-year-old NL Rookie of the Year finalist Jackson Chourio while delivering one of his best seasons. Adames hit .251/.331/.462 while setting career highs for home runs (32), RBIs (112) and stolen bases (21).

If you’re a believer in the clutch gene, Adames had it in 2024. Only Shohei Ohtani (130 RBIs) drove in more runs among NL players, and Adames’ 13 three-run homers tied Ken Griffey Jr.’s Major League record.

The Brewers will remain in contact with Adames’ representatives at CAA Sports and might even make an offer, but both sides have been open about what will probably come next. Considering the team’s payroll realities and that the Brewers have two potential shortstops-in-waiting in Joey Ortiz (who played third base this season) and Brice Turang (who won the NL Gold Glove Award at second), it’s very unlikely that Adames will return to Milwaukee in 2025 and beyond.

Since coming to Milwaukee in a 2021 trade with the Rays, Adames delivered a .780 OPS with 107 home runs and 348 RBIs while starting 538 out of a possible 604 regular-season games at shortstop.

“A lot of great memories in this clubhouse,” Adames said after the Brewers fell to the Mets in the NL Wild Card Series. “A lot of great players, great personalities like Bob [Uecker], who just made me cry. They made me, as a player. ... I became a better player since I came here, you know? They helped me to grow on and off the field. I’m just grateful.”